- A new batch of government records contradict another part of Rep. George Santos' life story.
- The embattled New York Republican claims his mother was in a World Trade Center tower on 9/11.
Embattled GOP Rep. George Santos says his mother was in her office in the World Trade Center during the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, but $4, immigration records show she wasn't even in the country at the time.
His mother, Fatima Devolder, applied for a US visa in 2003, the Forward reported, citing immigration documents. In those documents, Devolver asserted she hadn't been in the United States since 1999, according to The Forward.
Santos' campaign website claimed that his mother was "in her office in the South Tower on September 11, 2001, when the horrific events of that day unfolded." Santos said Devolver survived the day but died years later of cancer.
In a July 2021 tweet, Santos said that "9/11 claimed my mothers life."
The apparent contradiction is the latest for the embattled New York Republican, who has admitted he lied about his education and job history before winning a seat in Congress.
Santos' office did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment about Fatima Devolder's whereabouts on September 11, 2001 or the latest challenge to Rep. Santos' portrayal of his family history.
According to the Forward-reviewed immigration records tracking Fatima Devolder's travels from 1988 through 2012, Santos' mother was actually in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro on 9/11.
That summer she had filed a request for a replacement green card at the US consulate in Rio, reporting that her identification had been stolen in June 1999. Upon submitting another application in 2003 to try and resolve the open issue, Fatima Devolder reaffirmed that she had not stepped foot in the US since 1999.
Other than the $4, Santos' penchant for lying hasn't derailed his $4 — yet. He's found a few defenders among fellow scandal-plagued House Republicans, including $4 and Rep. $4.
House GOP leaders have given their blessing to seating Santos on $4 and $4 designed to investigate members, like Santos, accused of wrongdoing.
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.