Unraveling the Enigma: Inside the Complex Journey of George Santos
I first encountered the name George Santos in 2019 when my editor assigned me a routine write-up about a new congressional candidate. Amidst my busy schedule covering New York politics for Newsday’s newsletter, this seemed like a quick assignment.
Santos promptly got on the phone, initiating a peculiar call. He claimed to be launching his campaign while simultaneously attending a work conference in Florida. Though vague on some policies, he spoke assertively about his personal narrative as a first-generation American, emphasizing his entire career in private equity (later discovered to be inaccurate).
I wrote a brief piece, and he shared it on Facebook. In an alternate reality, this could have marked the end of my engagement with the Queens newcomer. However, Santos’s eccentricities provided ongoing material in the subsequent months.
His actions, such as ambiguity about his residency in the district and raising funds for a “recount” campaign despite a clear loss, created intrigue. Despite negative coverage, he continued to engage over the phone. Eventually, he began avoiding interaction. During his second campaign in 2022, he skipped an endorsement interview, and I even witnessed him hastily leaving the men’s room before a Newsday debate where the editorial board endorsed his opponent.
The New York Times later published a revealing story connecting the dots of his fabrications and odd behavior.
This prompted my quest to understand George Santos’s motives. Despite his refusal to contribute to my book, “The Fabulist,” and his staff’s disinterest in interviews, I delved into conversations with over 100 individuals who knew him.
Friends, family, former teachers, and dates provided insights into his scams, his personality, jokes, routines, and even details like his choice of an expensive $200 wine bottle.
My journey took me to various locations in search of Santos’s past. Recognizing Brazil’s significance in his late adolescence, I spent weeks there to explore his teenage years, including his experiences with drag and romance. This led me to a unique “sauna” where I observed Santos’s drag mentor performing, offering a glimpse into Santos’s early influences.
I consumed every podcast featuring Santos and read books by KrisAnne Hall, a political author he claimed to admire. I collected pre-fame photographs and videos, retraced his steps in places he walked, and attended federal court sessions where he made appearances.
The chase alternated between solemn and surreal moments, feeling simultaneously distant and intimate. Santos accused me of trespassing and leaving notes under doors during my New York door-knocking endeavors. Yet, such efforts occasionally yielded unexpected encounters, like meeting a Greek man connected to Santos’s story.
Even after completing the book, the chase persisted. Santos refused fact-checking, declaring it “my journey.” The book revealed anecdotes like Santos “bidding” on a bowtie at a GOP meeting, but the party allegedly never received the payment.
The saga of George Santos continued, showcasing a blend of eccentricity and evasion, leaving me with an enduring pursuit of the real Santos.
