Rise to Success: Career Highlights of George Santos

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how George Santos made an impact.

George Santos is a former American politician and convicted felon who served as the U.S. Representative for New York's 3rd congressional district in 2023 before being expelled from Congress. He initially ran unsuccessfully in 2020, but won the seat in 2022, defeating Democrat Robert Zimmerman. Santos made history as the first openly LGBTQ Republican elected to Congress. However, his tenure was short-lived and marked by controversy, leading to his expulsion.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

2005: Citigroup Asset Management Division Sale

In 2005, Citigroup sold its asset management division, before the period George Santos claimed he was employed there.

October 2011: Started working at Dish Network

In October 2011, George Santos began working as a customer service representative at Dish Network.

2011: Creation of 'Anthony Devolder' Wikipedia page

In 2011, a Wikipedia userpage created under the name "Anthony Devolder" claimed the account holder had acted in Hannah Montana and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.

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2011: Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark Opening

The musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark opened in 2011, during which George Santos was living in Brazil.

July 2012: End of Dish Network Employment

In July 2012, George Santos' employment at Dish Network ended.

July 2012: Ended employment at Dish Network

In July 2012, George Santos's employment as a customer service representative at Dish Network ended.

2013: Santos founded Friends of Pets United

From 2013, George Santos claimed to have rescued over 2,500 animals as founder and operator of a charity called Friends of Pets United (FOPU).

2013: Claims of Modeling Career

In late 2013, George Santos told a roommate that he was a model who had worked at New York Fashion Week and would be appearing in Vogue.

2013: Worked for HotelsPro

Sometime after 2013, George Santos worked for HotelsPro, a subsidiary of MetGlobal.

2018: FOPU's operations continued

Until 2018, George Santos claimed to have rescued over 2,500 animals as founder and operator of a charity called Friends of Pets United (FOPU).

March 2019: Santos's Appearance at #WalkAway Foundation Event

At a March 2019 event held by the conservative #WalkAway Foundation, Santos, introducing himself as Anthony Devolder, claimed to have formed a group called United for Trump and asked Blaire White, a transgender YouTuber, how she could "help educate other trans people from not having to follow the narrative that the media and the Democrats put forward".

July 2019: Counter-Protest in Buffalo, New York

In July 2019, United for Trump, led by George Santos, staged a counter-protest to an anti-Trump rally in Buffalo, New York, which led to shouting and a fistfight.

November 2019: Launched Campaign for Congress

In November 2019, George Santos launched his campaign for the United States House of Representatives in New York's 3rd congressional district.

2019: Worked for LinkBridge Investors

In 2019, George Santos worked for LinkBridge Investors, where he was listed as a vice president but also described as a freelancer.

2019: Campaign Committee Formed

Shortly after being formed in 2019, George Santos's campaign committee made its first donations, $9,000 total, to Trump's presidential campaign committee and two local Republican organizations.

January 2020: Began Working for Harbor City Capital

In January 2020, shortly after launching his first campaign for Congress, George Santos began working for Harbor City Capital.

June 2020: Opened Harbor City Capital Office in Manhattan

In June 2020, during his first run for Congress, George Santos opened an office for Harbor City Capital in Manhattan, becoming the firm's New York regional director.

October 2020: Santos Claims Support from Steve Israel

On an October 2020 radio show, Santos claimed that Democratic former congressman Steve Israel offered him his support during an event hosted by the Council for a Secure America. Israel denied the claim.

2020: Refused to Accept 2020 Defeat

George Santos refused to accept his 2020 defeat and falsely claimed that the vote totals had been manipulated. He insisted that half the Democratic ballots should have been discarded.

2020: Stated election was stolen

George Santos said that the election he lost by 13 percentage points in 2020 was stolen from him.

2020: President of United for Trump

George Santos was president of United for Trump, a small New York-based group supporting Donald Trump's 2020 re-election campaign.

2020: First Congressional Run

In 2020, George Santos ran as a Republican for New York's 3rd congressional district, but was defeated by Tom Suozzi.

2020: Financial Disclosure Discrepancies

In 2020, George Santos reported a net worth of $5,000 and $50,000 from Harbor City Capital, but later reports exposed over $90,000 in income and $80,000 in mostly fictitious loans to his campaign.

2020: Lack of Questions Regarding Claims

In 2020, George Santos stated that no one raised questions about his education claims during his campaign.

2020: Reported Income from Devolder on 2020 Tax Return

The House Ethics Committee's investigation found that George Santos reported income from Devolder Organization on his 2020 income tax return, although he incorporated the LLC in May 2021.

January 6, 2021: Spoke at a "Stop the Steal" Rally

On January 6, 2021, George Santos spoke at a "Stop the Steal" rally the day before the attack on the Capitol. Later that day he attended Trump's Save America rally at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C.

April 2021: Harbor City Capital Paid Santos Through April 2021

Harbor City Capital paid George Santos at least through April 2021.

May 2021: Santos Incorporated Devolder Organization LLC and Applied for a Business Account

In May 2021, George Santos incorporated Devolder Organization LLC. In May 2021 when Santos applied for a business account, he told the bank that the organization made $800,000 in net profit every year and grossed $1.5M.

August 2021: Endorsed by Elise Stefanik

In August 2021, U.S. representative Elise Stefanik endorsed George Santos and helped him raise over $100,000 at a fundraiser.

November 2021: Suozzi Announced He Would Not Seek Reelection

In November 2021, Tom Suozzi announced he would not seek reelection to Congress, improving Republicans' chances of winning the seat and George Santos becoming unopposed for the Republican nomination.

November 2021: RedStone Strategies Formed

RedStone Strategies was formed in November 2021 following complaints from the Forte campaign about Red Strategies. Santos represented himself as its "managing partner" while signing one contract with another vendor; he also used a RedStone email address in his capital introduction work.

May 2022: Santos's May 2022 Campaign Financial Disclosure

In May 2022, George Santos's campaign financial disclosure said that Devolder Organization's assets were in the $1M to $1.5M range.

July 2022: Devolder's Revenue Estimated at Less Than $50,000

In July 2022, Dun & Bradstreet estimated Devolder Organization's revenue at less than $50,000.

July 2022: Joint Fundraising Committee

In July 2022, a joint fundraising committee created for a fundraiser held with Santos in Garden City, New York, reported raising $11,600.

July 2022: Grenell Formally Endorses Santos

In July 2022, former ambassador Richard Grenell formally endorsed George Santos. Grenell was also involved with starting Outspoken and spoke at a Santos fundraiser around the same time.

September 2022: Devolder Organization Dissolved

In September 2022, Devolder Organization was dissolved in Florida for failing to file annual reports.

November 2022: Santos Elected to Congress

In November 2022, George Santos was elected to the United States Congress

December 19, 2022: NY Times Reports on Santos's Fabricated Biography

On December 19, 2022, after Santos had been elected to Congress but before he had taken office, The New York Times reported that he had lied about many aspects of his biography. His lawyer denied the allegations.

2022: Reported Net Worth Increase

By 2022, George Santos claimed a net worth of $2.5 to $11 million but reported no U.S. property, despite earlier claims. A $600,000 loan to his campaign was missing, but bank records showed $715,000 in loans from personal savings and Devolder accounts.

2022: Claim of Owning 13 Rental Properties

During his 2022 congressional campaign, George Santos claimed that he and his family owned 13 rental properties in New York.

2022: Claimed Producer Role in Spider-Man Musical

During his 2022 congressional campaign, George Santos told prospective donors that he was a producer for the musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.

2022: Claimed Attendance at SALT Conference

In 2022, George Santos claimed that while employed at Goldman Sachs seven years earlier, he had attended the SALT Conference and criticized the company for investing in renewable energy.

2022: Election to Congress

In 2022, George Santos won the election for New York's 3rd congressional district, becoming the first openly LGBTQ Republican elected to Congress.

2022: NY Republicans Call for Santos's Resignation

On January 11, 2023, only eight days after the start of his tenure, four Republican New York congressmen who had also been elected in 2022—Anthony D'Esposito, Nick LaLota, Nick Langworthy, and Brandon Williams—called for Santos to resign. Joseph Cairo, the chair of the Nassau County Republican Party, also called for Santos to resign, saying that he had "disgraced the House of Representatives, and we do not consider him one of our congresspeople".

2022: Santos Frequently Refers to Purported Jewish Ancestry During 2022 Campaign

Santos did not otherwise make much mention of his purported Jewish ancestry during his 2020 run, but referred to it frequently in 2022 when all the candidates seeking the Democratic nomination to replace Suozzi were Jewish.

January 2023: Claimed Baruch Volleyball success

In January 2023, George Santos falsely claimed he was a "star player" on the Baruch volleyball team, having won the league championship and defeated Yale University.

January 2023: Sworn into the House of Representatives

In January 2023, George Santos was sworn in as a member of the House of Representatives, amidst increasing media scrutiny and demands for his resignation due to fabricated biography revelations.

February 2023: Santos Co-sponsors Bill to Designate AR-15 as National Gun

In February 2023, Santos co-sponsored a bill to designate the "AR-15–style rifle" the National Gun of the United States.

April 2023: Santos Announces Re-election Bid, Faces Opposition

In April 2023, Santos's campaign announced that he would seek re-election in 2024. However, the state's Conservative and Republican Party chairs declared they would not support him.

May 2023: Democrats Introduce Resolution to Expel Santos

In May 2023, after Santos was indicted on federal charges, Robert Garcia and other House Democrats introduced a resolution to expel Santos from the House, requiring a two-thirds vote. The House approved a motion to send the resolution to the Ethics Committee.

May 2023: Santos Files New FEC Paperwork and Hires New Treasurer

In May 2023, after his indictment, Santos filed new FEC paperwork listing himself as treasurer. The following day, he hired Jason D. Boles, who previously served as a treasurer for Marjorie Taylor Greene. CREW filed another FEC complaint alleging that Olson, presumably the prior listed treasurer, was fictitious.

July 2023: Santos's Office Lags in Constituent Services

In July 2023, Roll Call reported that Santos's office was behind those of members from neighboring districts in handling constituent service requests.

October 2023: Expulsion Vote Fails, Santos Initially Plans to Run Again

Following the failure of an October 2023 vote to expel him from the House, Santos stated he would run again in 2024, even if expelled before the election.

November 2023: Santos Reverses Course, Will Not Seek Re-election

In November 2023, after the House Ethics Committee's report revealed further fraud allegations against Santos, he reversed his decision and announced he would not seek re-election.

December 1, 2023: House of Representatives Votes to Expel Santos

On December 1, 2023, following an investigation by the House Ethics Committee and a federal indictment, the House of Representatives voted to expel George Santos.

December 2023: Expulsion from Congress

In December 2023, George Santos was expelled from the U.S. House of Representatives.

2023: Santos Votes Against Fiscal Responsibility Act

In 2023, Santos was among the 71 Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.

2023: House Democrats Announce Censure Resolution

Later in 2023, House Democrats announced they would introduce a resolution to censure Santos, requiring only a simple majority to pass. Five New York Republicans, who had already called for Santos's resignation, said they would vote for censure.

2023: Santos's Voting Record and Indictment Response

Throughout 2023, Santos voted in favor of key bills supported by the House Republican leadership. After his indictment in May 2023, House Republican leadership reiterated they would not seek to force Santos to resign or be expelled. A Democratic attempt to force a vote on expulsion was blocked and referred to the Committee on Ethics.

March 22, 2024: Santos Leaves the Republican Party

On March 22, 2024, Santos announced his departure from the Republican Party, stating that he could not affiliate himself with a party that "stands for nothing and falls for everything." He intended to continue his congressional campaign as an independent.

April 2024: Santos Revives Drag Persona and Joins Cameo

In April 2024, George Santos announced he would revive his Kitara drag persona for Cameo videos, promising to donate a portion of the proceeds to charity. However, one of the charities, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, stated they were not informed of his plans.

April 23, 2024: Santos Drops Out of Congressional Race

On April 23, 2024, Santos dropped out of the race for the House in New York's 1st congressional district.

2024: Santos says he is still running for reelection

After being granted pretrial release on a $500,000 bond George Santos told reporters that this was a "witch hunt" and that he was still running for reelection in 2024.

2024: Santos Announces Challenge to LaLota

During the 2024 State of the Union Address in March, Santos announced he would run for the House in New York's 1st congressional district, challenging incumbent Republican Nick LaLota. LaLota responded by stating he would beat Santos in a primary if necessary.

2024: Boles Listed as Treasurer in Paperwork for 2024 Candidacy

In 2024, when Santos filed new paperwork after announcing his 2024 candidacy, Jason Boles was listed as treasurer for the campaign.

2024: Santos Deemed Candidate in 2024 Elections

In February 2024, the FEC informed Santos that his campaign had raised over $5,000 without debts, which qualified him as a candidate in the 2024 elections. He was given until March 14 to declare his candidacy and subsequently filed a statement confirming his candidacy.