Deep Cover: George Santos – Episode 1: The Campaign

Host: Pushkin Industries
Producer: Amy Gaines McQuaid
Release Date: August 19, 2024

Introduction

In the inaugural episode of the "Deep Cover: George Santos" miniseries, Pushkin Industries delves into the enigmatic rise and precipitous fall of George Santos, the former Republican Congressman from New York. Produced by Amy Gaines McQuaid, a reporter with personal ties to Santos' congressional district, the episode meticulously unpacks the web of deception surrounding Santos, setting the stage for his upcoming criminal trial.

George Santos: The Facade

George Santos portrayed himself as a quintessential American success story. Born in a basement apartment in Jackson Heights, Queens, Santos presented himself as the embodiment of the American dream—a narrative that resonated with voters and propelled him to Congress at the age of 34.

Notable Quote:

"Like many in our great nation, my parents came to this country in search of the American dream."
— George Santos, Republican Jewish Coalition Speech ([02:43])

Santos claimed extensive credentials:

• Education: Claimed to have attended Baruch and NYU.
• Career: Asserted positions at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup.
• Personal Life: Highlighted his Jewish heritage and his family's Holocaust survival stories.

This crafted persona painted Santos as a successful businessman and an advocate for the Jewish community, bolstering his appeal among diverse constituencies in New York's third Congressional District.

The Unraveling

The meticulously constructed image of Santos began to crumble in December 2022 when The New York Times published an explosive investigative report titled "Who is Rep. Elect George Santos? His Resume May Be Largely Fiction" ([04:50]). Authored by Grace Ashford and Michael Gold, the article revealed significant discrepancies in Santos' claims, suggesting that much of his resume was fabricated.

Notable Quote:

"This guy isn't who he claimed to be."
— The New York Times Headline ([05:36])

The immediate fallout was palpable. Republicans in Nassau County, including Joe Cairo, publicly denounced Santos, urging his resignation:

Notable Quote:

"George Santos campaign last year was a campaign of deceit, lies, fabrication. He deceived the voters of the third Congressional District."
— Joe Cairo, Head of the Republican Party in Nassau County ([13:03])

Santos' initial response was dismissive. Through his attorney, he labeled the allegations as defamatory attacks orchestrated by The New York Times, aiming to smear his reputation ([05:36]).

Financial Discrepancies and Investigations

The heart of the controversy lies in the financial irregularities uncovered in Santos' campaign finance filings. Saurav Ghosh, Director of Federal Campaign Finance Reform at Campaign Legal Center, played a pivotal role in scrutinizing Santos' financial disclosures.

Notable Quote:

"There was this glaring disconnect between his personal finances as he had reported on financial disclosure form and his campaign reports which indicated he had loaned his own campaign a ton of money."
— Saurav Ghosh ([23:34])

Key Findings:

1. Campaign Loans vs. Reported Income:

   • 2020 Campaign: Santos loaned his unsuccessful 2020 campaign $80,000 despite reporting personal assets and income of only $55,000 ([24:35]).
   • 2022 Campaign: Claimed a $500,000 loan to his campaign, juxtaposed with reported assets of an apartment in Brazil and a vaguely defined business, the Devolder Organization, valued between $1 million and $5 million ([26:04]).

2. Devolder Organization:

   • Founded shortly after his 2020 election loss.
   • Claimed rapid financial success with ambiguous business operations, raising suspicions about its legitimacy ([26:04], [30:13]).

3. Potential Straw Donor Scheme:

   • Ghosh posited that Santos might be channeling money from undisclosed external sources through straw donors, a serious violation of campaign finance laws ([32:31]).

These discrepancies raised critical questions about the authenticity of Santos' wealth and the sources of his campaign funds, suggesting potential money laundering and identity theft charges looming over him.

The Fox News Interview and Attempts at Damage Control

In an attempt to salvage his tarnished image, Santos granted an interview to Fox News, conducted by Tulsi Gabbard. The encounter was disastrous, leaving Santos visibly uncomfortable and defensive.

Notable Quote:

"What does the word integrity mean to you?"
— Tulsi Gabbard, Fox News Interview ([11:45])

Santos' evasive and incomplete answers only fueled skepticism. Post-interview, he reached out to reporters, including Khadija Goba, seeking to clarify his position amidst the chaos.

The Role of Devolder Organization

Santos attributed his financial success to the Devolder Organization, claiming it to be a thriving business venture. However, investigative efforts revealed a lack of transparency regarding its operations and revenue streams.

Notable Quote:

"What kind of business is Devolder doing? What kind of money is Devolder bringing in?"
— Saurav Ghosh ([30:13])

The FBI expressed interest in Santos' activities, especially concerning yacht sales he brokered during his campaign, further deepening the investigative scrutiny.

Allegations of Fake Donations and Indictment

The government's indictment against Santos alleges that he manipulated campaign finance reports to present an inflated version of his financial standing. Key allegations include:

1. Fake Loans and Donations:

   • Santos purportedly fabricated loans and donations to meet Republican Party fundraising benchmarks, securing essential campaign support ([34:12]).

2. Conspiracy with Campaign Treasurer:

   • Nancy Marks, Santos' campaign treasurer, is accused of orchestrating the falsification of financial reports. Marks has already taken a plea deal, hinting at more revelations during Santos' trial ([34:49]).

3. Manipulation for Party Support:

   • The inflated financial reports were strategically designed to obtain coordinated expenditures and ad support from the Republican Party, strengthening Santos' electoral prospects ([36:05]).

These manipulations not only violated campaign finance laws but also betrayed the trust of his constituents, positioning Santos as a mastermind of deception with potential prison time looming.

Conclusions and Next Steps

The episode concludes by highlighting the depth of Santos' deceit and the extensive investigations that have ensued. As the story unfolds, "Deep Cover" promises to explore the personal betrayals and the intricate web Santos wove to sustain his political ascent.

Teaser for Next Episode:

"Coming up on the next episode of Deep Cover: George Santos, his mom was pretty central to his campaign. He called her a Wall Street executive. He said that she escaped the South Tower during 9/11. He said that she was a big political actor. There are a few people in this world you should not lie to: your lawyer, your doctor, and your communications director."
— Khadija Goba ([39:48])

Credits

Produced by Amy Gaines McQuaid & Joey Fishground.
Editor: Karen Shakurji
Executive Producer: Jacob Smith
Mastering: Jake Gorski
Fact Checking: Annika Robbins
Show Art: Sean Carney
Music: Luis Guerra and Epidemic Sound

Note: This summary excludes all advertisement segments and non-content sections to focus solely on the substantive discussions and revelations presented in the episode.