Questions continued to swirl Tuesday around Congressman-elect George Santos of Queens, who according to a New York Times investigation may have fabricated much of his personal history.

The Times’ shocking revelations raised questions not only about his biography but also about his finances and campaign disclosures.

“He is just not fit to serve in Congress, and should not serve in Congress,” said Robert Zimmerman.

Zimmerman, a Democrat, lost to Santos in the November election for New York’s third Congressional district, which covers mostly Nassau County but also areas of northeast Queens including Whitestone, Bayside, Little Neck and Queens Village.


What You Need To Know

  • A New York Times investigation found no evidence to support much of George Santos’ personal story and raised questions about his finances

  • Santos, a Republican, defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman in the November election for the 3rd congressional district, covering northeast Queens and Nassau County

  • Some Democrats are calling for the House Ethics Committee to investigate; others have suggested his false statements could amount to federal crimes

  • Santos has not directly addressed the allegations, and House Republicans have remained silent on the issue

One Nassau County legislator brought residents Tuesday to the Whitestone address where Santos is registered.

“We’re standing here united, unapologetic and categorical in calling on Congressman-elect Santos to resign his position and election to the United States Congress,” said Joshua Lafazan, legislator for Nassau County’s 18th district.

The building’s landlord told us that until a few months ago, Santos did, in fact, live at the Whitestone apartment.

But the Times found no evidence to support much of the rest of his personal story, including representations that he attended Baruch College and NYU; worked at Citigroup and Goldman Sachs; founded an animal rescue registered charity; has a portfolio of 13 family-owned properties; or that his company managed tens of millions of dollars in assets.

In an interview on NY1’s Inside City Hall last month, Santos talked up his financial credentials when asked what House committees he’d like serve on, saying: “I have the desire to serve on financial services based on my 14-year background in capital markets.”

Not only is that background now in question, so is the source of his purported personal wealth.

“In fact, there are a number of issues here about not just filing false documents, but also, most of all, looking at his finances,” Zimmerman said. “The fact that he loaned his own campaign $700,000 without any demonstration that he had that money in the bank to loan his own campaign.”

Some Democrats are calling for the House Ethics Committee to investigate; others have suggested Santos’ false statements, including those made to the Federal Election Commission, could amount to federal crimes.

Santos has not addressed the allegations, only releasing a statement from his attorney that said the Times was trying to “smear his good name” with “defamatory allegations.”

House Republican leaders have been silent on the allegations.

“This issue is not about me,” Zimmerman said. “And it’s much bigger than Democrat versus Republican. This was a fraud committed on our congressional district by George Santos.”