Santos’ claim about his mother and 9/11 faces scrutiny amid his other lies

As Rep.-elect George Santos continues to face scrutiny for false claims the New York Republican has made about his biography, one other story is being questioned: that his mom was on the World Commerce Middle on September 11, 2001, and that the incident performed a job in her demise.

Particularly, two tweets despatched from Santos’ account in 2021 and first reported by journalist Yashar Ali on Wednesday are elevating questions concerning the veracity of the story.

In a July 2021 tweet, Santos mentioned, “9/11 claimed my moms life.” However months later, he mirrored on the five-year anniversary of his mom’s demise in 2016.

Santos’ marketing campaign web site additionally makes reference to the story however claims his mom survived the assaults and handed away “a number of years later” from most cancers.

“George’s mom was in her workplace within the South Tower on September 11, 2001, when the horrific occasions of that day unfolded. She survived the tragic occasions on September eleventh, however she handed away a number of years later when she misplaced her battle to most cancers,” the web site states.

In a December 17, 2021, radio interview on “The Voice of Motive with Andy Hooser,” Santos mentioned that his mom obtained “caught up within the ash cloud” on 9/11 and that she didn’t signal as much as get monetary reduction as a result of she didn’t need to take cash away from first responders.

“She was within the south tower, and he or she made it out. She obtained caught up within the ash cloud. My mother fought most cancers until her demise,” Santos mentioned.

“She by no means utilized for reduction as a result of her, her motto was, ‘I can afford it. We’re lucky. We will maintain all our, our medical payments. If I take it, I’m taking it away from these women and men who want it and who put their lives on the road,’” Santos added.

It’s unclear if Santos’ mom, Fatima A.C.H. Devolder, was current on the World Commerce Middle on 9/11, as he claims. An obituary posted on-line says she handed away on December 23, 2016, greater than 15 years after 9/11, at Elmhurst Hospital Hospice in New York.

Many 9/11 first responders and survivors developed well being situations after inhaling contaminated air from the collapsed twin towers.

Santos has beforehand claimed his mom was a monetary government, though that description has since been faraway from his web site. NBC Information, citing public information, reported that her solely employment historical past was at a Queens-based imports firm that went below in 1994.

CNN has reached out to representatives for Santos for remark.

This story has been up to date with further data.