WASHINGTON — Rep. George Santos, RN.Y., said in an interview Thursday that Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., comforted him after his tense exchange this week with Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, but the Sinema’s office says she never spoke to Santos.
Santos told Newsmax Thursday night that after Romney lashed out at him before Tuesday’s State of the Union address, Sinema told the congressman to «be there, dude» as he walked by. He added that she «was very polite, very kind-hearted,» unlike Romney, who he said «has always been prejudiced against minorities.»
«She’s a good person, unlike Mr. Romney, who thinks he’s above everything. And all his mighty white horse trying to talk to us about morality,» Santos said.
But that never happened, Sinema’s spokeswoman, Hannah Hurley, told NBC News, calling Santos’ comment «a lie.» The two lawmakers never spoke, Hurley said, and Sinema was unaware of the exchange between Santos and Romney until the Republican senator later informed her.
Santos’ office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.
During the same interview with Newsmax, Santos claimed that he never lied about his work experience. «I want to set the record straight about my work experience. I never lied.» Santos said. “To say that I cheated and there was a campaign of cheating and cheating, it’s just not fair. That’s just the political twist that the Nassau County Republican Party wants to create in this narrative.»
Santos, however, had previously admitted to lying about numerous parts of his background. It is subject to federal, state, local and international research
Asked by the Newsmax host if he’s ever survived a brain tumor, Santos said: «I’ve had my own personal medical issues in the past and I don’t feel like I need to go into detail. But yes, I did have an acute tumor.» of…» The congressman had previously claimed in 2020 that he had battled a brain tumor a couple of years earlier.
Before President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address on Tuesday, Romney approached Santos while the congressman was in the aisle of the House chamber and they had what appeared to be a tense exchange. Later, Romney said: «He’s a sick puppy. He shouldn’t have been there,» he said of Santos standing in the hallway.
«Since he is under ethical investigation, he should be sitting in the back row and quiet instead of parading in front of the president,» he added.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said last month that Santos would be removed from office if the Ethics Committee finds he broke the law after he admitted fabricating parts of his record. He told reporters on Tuesday that while there have been complaints about Santos, the Ethics Committee has not formally opened an investigation.
Santos said last month that he would temporarily recuse himself from his committee assignments amid investigations into his finances and other matters.