Rep. George Santos describes his launch to Congress as attention befitting an “it girl,” a phrase typically reserved for a popular socialite who rubs elbows with the most famous people.

But the adjective most commonly used before the New York Republican’s name is “embattled.”

Santos started his first term mired in scandal, admitting much of his personal and professional resume was fabricated. The lies ranged from being a volleyball star at a college he never attended to alleged fraud for which he is facing 23 federal charges.

After nearly a year full of revelations, accusations and challenges, Santos said he expects his first term to be his last after a recent House Ethics Committee report said the freshman representative violated criminal laws.

“You want to expel me? I’ll wear it like a badge of honor. I’ll be the sixth expelled member of Congress,” Santos said Friday morning during an X Spaces, formerly Twitter Spaces, hosted by Monica Matthews.

  • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    But the adjective most commonly used before the New York Republican’s name is “embattled.”

    That it’s not “fundamentally dishonest” or just “usually lying” shows how useless billionaire-owned media is at holding the rich and powerful accountable.

    • lolcatnip
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      10 months ago

      Calling him dishonest doesn’t distinguish him from typical Republicans, though.

      • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        True, but the “fundamentally” part implies an inability or unwillingness to EVER be honest that sets him apart from even your typical Republican as more of a liar. Such a thing shouldn’t even be possible but here we are 🤷

    • Nastybutler@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      Santos is not rich, at least not with his own money, and he’s the least powerful member of Congress, so really, not that powerful

      • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        Santos is not rich, at least not with his own money

        But has enough access, opportunistic tendencies and dishonesty to be rich on other people’s money

        the least powerful member of Congress

        Still comes with a lot of power and privileges, especially when you’re part of the club that’s good friends with all the Federalist Society judges…

  • CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    Huh, it’s so weird that he’s a Republican. Did I say weird? I guess I meant to say entirely expected.

  • Fades@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    If you are to be expelled, it’s very much not over when you say it’s over. It’s over when your coworkers toss you out on your ass.

    If he truly wanted control he would resign but he’s just lying as usual

    • Telorand
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      10 months ago

      Not we. Conservatives and Republicans, including the people in his district.

      • Joker@discuss.tchncs.de
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        10 months ago

        The Republicans from his district were among the first people trying to throw him out. It was McCarthy who was protecting him because he needed the vote. Then Johnson did the same thing until the ethics report.

      • Sybil@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        he’s a representative out of New York. I’m not in New York. he matters not at all to me or most people.

        • TransplantedSconie@lemm.ee
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          10 months ago

          Because if one skates, the next couple think they can skate, and then the next.

          Fuuuuuuck that. Chuck the library at this motherfucker and send him upriver for 3 decades.

            • SatanicNotMessianic@lemmy.ml
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              10 months ago

              Except in this case it’s actually working.

              And to the degree it doesn’t, it’s because of people who “don’t care.” With Bobo giving a handjob in public and Trump seeing no negative impact from the indictments, and the J6ers still in Congress and getting reelected - it’s the people who “don’t care” who don’t hold the politicians responsible who make committing crimes and defending the criminals just a part of normal US politics.

      • lolcatnip
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        10 months ago

        He doesn’t seem that different from any other Republican to me. He’s more brazen in his lies but no less honest.