A Republican deputy faced increasing criticism and calls to resign, after admitting that he had falsified a large part of his CV, while refusing to give up his seat.

George Santos' victory last November in a New York district helped the Republican Party secure a limited majority in the House of Representatives.

However, an investigation by the New York Times raised doubts about key parts of his scientific and professional career that he promoted during the election campaign.

Santos admitted in two separate interviews on Monday that he had falsified a large part of his resume, indicating that he did not work for "Goldman Sachs" and "Citigroup", and did not graduate from college, contrary to what he had stated.

Nevertheless, the Republican refused to give up his seat in Congress, telling the New York Post, "I'm not a criminal," drawing comparisons to former President Richard Nixon's unpopular 1973 statement, "I'm not a fraud."

Debt and money

Santos apologized for what he described as "beautifying his resume", but some of his justifications were considered unconvincing, especially his defense of his claim that he was Jewish.

"I am Catholic," he told the newspaper. "Because I knew my mother's family had a Jewish background, I said I was Jew-ish."

Questions remain about Santos' financial situation, while Democrats have raised the possibility that he broke the law by lying about disclosing his finances during his election campaign.

In the context, a number of members of President Joe Biden's party called for House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy to vote to expel Santos if he did not resign.

"His pathetic admission should not distract us from concerns about potential crime and corruption," New York Congressman Richie Torres wrote on Twitter.

"The ethics committee should investigate how he makes his money. Where there is smoke, there is fire."

Electoral fraud

California Congressman Eric Swalwell accused Santos of "defrauding Long Island voters about his entire resume," while Democratic strategist Kurt Bardella urged McCarthy to "call for his resignation."

"If Santos refuses, he should not take a seat in the new Congress," Bardilla said.

Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman in Queens and Long Island, was at the forefront of the "wave" of Republicans in New York that led to the party winning a majority of 222 seats compared to 212 for Democrats in the House of Representatives.

Initially, Santos published a statement issued by his lawyer, accusing the New York Times of "attempting to discredit him through these defamatory allegations."

Journalists in Congress asked McCarthy about these accusations, but he has avoided responding so far.