George Santos affords Holocaust speech. Glimpse CNN anchor’s response

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle commemorated International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Friday, including this one. I would like to take a moment to acknowledge a grandmother of one of my deceased staffers.

Who the 93 year old survivor of Auschwitz and is also one of the few survivors of her family who was tragically lost at the hands of Nazi murders. anti-Semitism is a plague in this nation, and it is undoubtedly up to us to ensure this kind of tragedy.

Is never to be seen again. So just as a reminder, George Santos lied about being Jewish. And not only that, he also lied about his grandparents escaping the Holocaust. I've seen how socialism destroys people's lives because my grandparents.

Survived the Holocaust. For a lot of people who are descendants of World War Two refugees or survivors of the Holocaust, a lot of names and paperwork were changed and in name of survival. So I don't carry the family. Last name that would have been.

The BRAF scheme That is. It's amazing. But but it's it's just in the context of this very sober and somber moment of Holocaust remembrance. I mean, there's no shame. Exactly.

I actually had in my office the House floor camera up and I was not alerted that he was going to take the floor. And all of a sudden I was like, oh, no, he's not going to really do this right now. He's just trolling us at this point. So, yes, no shame is one thing here.

But for all the distraction that is George Santos, I do think the campaign finance piece of this is the piece we should keep our eyes on because it is clear Kevin McCarthy and House Republicans.

Are not interested in doing anything about Santos. But if indeed there is a criminal investigation into his campaign finances that emerges with an indictment that will change the calculus, that will all of a sudden that will change.

Kevin McCarthy's behavior. One would imagine as it relates to George Senator to. So I would keep our eyes on what's happening with his finances. It's pretty much the only thing that might change the calculus, because the unwillingness, particularly on the House.

Republican side, is so high. I mean, this Jorge Santos, I mean, the audacity is kind of stunning on every level. And to your point about the shamelessness of this act. But I think also we see someone who is reveling in their newfound fame.

I think it speaks to a new type of Congress we have on our hands where we think that there are some figures who are there for the serious business of legislating, but there are other figures who are there.

For the very unserious business of just trying to become a celebrity. Well, here's the thing about being on Capitol Hill. You're not going to escape the reporter's entourage. You doing the Lord's work, trying to get some answers out of Jorge Santos.

Why did you amend your FEC reports to say 500? Let's make it very clear. I don't amend anything. I don't touch any of my FEC stuff. Right. So don't be disingenuous and report that I did, because you know that every campaign hires a fiduciary.

So I'm not aware of that answer. And we'll have an answer for the press regarding the amendment from yesterday when it was the one was the source of your funds, sir. What was the source of that money? Mr. Sanders,.

You listed the wrong name of a treasurer. Why did you list the wrong name of your treasurer and your campaign finance forms? I'll have the conversation with you. What? You become a better honest reporter. I'm asking you directly. Reporter No, that.

Now, this is all good and and fine until the feds come calling, right? Yeah. And a Department of Justice investigation, right? Writing the FEC, looking in this. I mean, they think that.

That totally changes the calculation. I think that everything we've seen to date has been relatively disingenuous. But I would also argue that we've entered an era of politics where a lot of politicians lie about things. That being said, you actually Donald Trump.

Was it yesterday saying that George Santos told a lot of whoppers. And so when you have the former president, who was known not to be the most honest calling you out for your level of honesty there, does perhaps elevate that situation.

But I agree with everyone here at this table. I don't think it changes nothing changes a calculation for House Republican leadership unless there's an actual investigation. Yeah. And this is all despite the fact that according to a new poll.

Out this week, his constituents want him to go at 64% of Democrats, 49% of Republicans and 59% of independents. New York state voters say he should resign. Meanwhile, Alex, just listen. This is Kevin McCarthy.

Responding to questions about why he won't do something, really anything to try to at least cordoned off Jorge Santos from being a member in good standing in the House of Representatives. I try to stick by the Constitution. The voters elected him to serve.

If there is a concern and he has to go through the ethics, let him move through that. The voters of his district have elected him. He is seated. He is part of the Republican conference. You know, I'm standing by him because his constituents voted for him.

And as former Speaker Paul Ryan put it just a few weeks ago, he was elected, but based on a fraudulent candidacy, it seems. Look, I think it's not totally indefensible as an argument to say.

The guy got elected and I don't particularly want him to be elected. But here we are. And so let him participate in the business of the body. It's very hard to make that argument in the convincing way.

When you're also trying to kick Ilhan Omar off the Foreign Affairs Committee because you object to elements of her, her worldview. Right. That she was also elected by her constituents in Minneapolis. And so if you if you take the view generally that,.

You know, the voters are the ultimate arbiters of all this and we have to be deferential to them, you need to sort of stick to that. I will say this is totally characteristic of Kevin McCarthy to make decisions.

Based on the most short term calculus possible and then make a different set of decisions whenever that calculus changes. But look, he needs that vote right now or he thinks he needs that vote right now.

He doesn't want a special election on Long Island under these circumstances. But the problem is, you are going to need to win that seat again in two years. One way or another. And if George Santos just four strings you along until he actually winds up running for reelection,.

That's a bigger headache. Or if the voters of that district see you and your party as coddling this guy who is just an unbelievably offensive character, then even if he doesn't run for reelection, good luck to your next candidate. Yeah.

And I mean, his colleagues among New York Republicans are basically making that argument. They're like, we need this guy gone because he's hurting all of us. But also, we should note he is on Capitol.

Hill trying to make friends, having a bit of a tough time because other members kind of don't want to be associated with him because I think everybody recognizes that they could be kind of tarnished by an association with someone who, frankly, they don't even know who he is.

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