(CNN) — Embattled GOP Rep. George Santos refused to take off the table a potential plea deal with the federal government and acknowledged mistakes in his handling of key issues outlined in the criminal indictments against him even as he forcefully defended himself.
In a wide-ranging interview with CNN, the New York Republican blamed “stupidity” and “insecurity” for his extensive fabrications about his biography, but insisted he is working to prove his debunked claim that his grandparents fled the Holocaust. Santos said he will “absolutely” run for reelection in 2024 even if he is expelled from Congress. He also attempted to distance himself from his former campaign treasurer who has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and has implicated Santos in the process.
Santos, a 35-year-old freshman congressman under siege, has remained defiant in the face of mounting legal issues and calls to resign. He survived a second attempt to oust him last week when a House vote on a resolution to expel him failed. But some of his fellow New York Republicans, who pushed for the vote against him, say they believe GOP holdouts will support expulsion after the House Ethics Committee, which is investigating Santos, releases its report.
Santos summed up what the past year has been like for him in one word:…
