Embattled GOP Rep.-elect Santos faces federal investigation over campaign lies

Embattled New York GOP Rep.-elect George Santos is facing a federal investigation of false claims he made during his campaign for office.

The Eastern District of New York announced on Thursday that it would pursue the investigation, according to NBC News. Prosecutors have not yet identified any specific criminal action and the investigation remains in the preliminary stages.

The move by federal prosecutors follows a similar action from the Nassau County district attorney announced earlier this week.

During the campaign, his website claimed that the Republican received a degree from Baruch College when in fact he had never attended that institution nor received a college degree of any kind. Moreover, Santos falsely claimed to have worked for Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, but now says he actually worked for a separate company that merely did business with both firms.

Capping his campaign whoppers was a claim that his family had fled Nazi Germany to escape the Holocaust, a claim multiple reports have called into question. Santos is a Roman Catholic.

Santos flipped a competitive Long Island congressional district in the 2022 midterm elections. His Democratic opponent, Robert Zimmerman, has since called on him to resign and participate in a special election rematch.

Santos has thus far resisted calls to resign and is slated to take office next week.