Jonathan Turley points out that George Santos 'is accused of something that is no crime in Congress'

Republican Rep-elect George Santos is facing criticism from both sides of the aisle after having been accused of embellishing his background and work history. From NBC News:

Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, said Sunday that Rep.-elect George Santos, R-N.Y., should consider resigning after he admitted that he had fabricated and “embellished” several claims about his background involving his education and work history.

Santos, who made LGBTQ political history when he won the race in New York’s 3rd Congressional District in November, is set to be sworn in Tuesday when the new Congress begins. Despite increasing calls by Democrats and some GOP officials for Santos to resign or not be sworn in, the House Republican leadership has remained silent.

Brady, who is retiring from Congress, said an interview on “Fox News Sunday” that Santos would need to “take some huge steps” to regain public trust.

However, George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley has pointed out that some of the people who want Santos to step down might have one problem:

There is a host of congressional, state and federal investigations are in the works over Rep.-Elect George Santos. The problem is that, for the most part, he is accused of something that is no crime in Congress: lying. https://t.co/2ylDOPuUFf

— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) January 2, 2023

Heck, lying is a way of life in Washington, DC (looking at you, Adam Schiff!).

…Indeed, there is a strange taxonomy of lies. When members lie about laws, policies or actions, we call it “spin.” Even a lie about your qualifications can be treated as a “yarn” if your vote is needed…

— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) January 2, 2023

Below is my column in the Hill on the calls for Rep.-Elect George Santos to be denied his seat in Congress this week. Members such as Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., have declared that Santos should be “banned from taking the oath for Congress.” (Santos has reportedly decided not to run for a second term). Such demands have been heard on various cable networks for weeks without addressing the constitutional barriers to denying a duly elected member from taking a seat. In my view, Santos could prevail in a court fight over being seated if he is barred due to lying about his credentials or background. That does not excuse his conduct. However, once again, members and pundits are calling for an action that is entirely untethered to constitutional realities.

“Completely untethered to constitutional realities” pretty much describes many, many people in Congress (not to mention “hypocrites”), so that wouldn’t cause them to stand down on this particular issue.

Watching politicians like Adam Schiff, Eric Swalwell, Nancy Pelosi or even Joe Biden essentially saying that liars have no place in Congress is truly amazing.