Would-be House Speaker, Byron Donalds, Defends Liar George Santos
Fla. Republican offers equivalence for the Santos falsehoods which is apples-and-oranges
The Florida congressman who repeatedly ran for House speaker this month has come out with an aged whataboutism to actually defend serial fabulist and fellow Republican, George Santos.
Rather than join those members of Congress — including some Republicans — who are calling on serial fabulist Santos to resign, Rep Byron Donalds tried to use an equivalency more than a decade old to defend his colleague from New York.
Now just in his second term, Donalds rose to prominence this month when a group of hard-right Republicans nominated him for speaker — over and over — to oppose Rep Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif) during the bruising weeklong, televised battle for the speakership. McCarthy ultimately won after the last of his opponents relented on the 15th ballot.
Meanwhile, the number of people — including members of Congress — who want Santos to resign is growing, due to the many lies Santos told in pursuit of his election to a House seat from Long Island and northeast Queens in New York.
New York Republicans in Santos's home district cut ties with the 34-year-old lawmaker just days after he was sworn in. Santos stands accused of lying about everything from his career and education, to his heritage and even potentially his name.
Most Republican House members from New York are ready to see GOP Rep. George Santos leave less than two weeks after he took office, with six saying he should resign for a string of campaign lies exposed after his election.
That contingent consists of every other GOP rookie from the state who joined Congress this month, two of whom represent Long Island with Santos.
But not Rep Byron Donalds, of Florida.
Donalds reached back to Connecticut Democrat Richard Blumenthal's first election to the Senate in 2010 to find a scrap of political cover to defend Santos.
Blumenthal was found to have lied about his military service during the race.
CNN correspondent Manu Raju interviewed Donalds to ask whether Santos should resign.
“No, I’ve been clear. I think that’s something between him and his voters. It’s unfortunate what has occurred, but — I mean, look, Richard Blumenthal, who’s still a senator, lied about his service. He’s still a senator today,” Donalds replied.
The key difference — left unspoken by Donalds — is that the press exposed Blumenthal's embellishment before the election, and voters voted him in even with that information.
Santos's serial falsehoods, however, only came to light after his election in the November midterm elections.
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