When an external firm hired by congressional candidate George Santos in 2021 provided an internal report exposing aspects of his controversial background, it was difficult for some of his aides to accept. They urged him to drop out of the race, but he refused, leading them to quit. However, the original report was never made public until now, revealing concerns about Santos’ marriage, his family’s connection to the Holocaust, and his alleged involvement with fraudulent companies. This report, known as the “vulnerability report,” has become relevant as Santos faces federal fraud charges. Vulnerability reports are commonly commissioned during campaigns to prepare for potential attacks from opponents. CBS News obtained portions of the report, which uncovered deleted social media posts and photos from Santos’ accounts. Santos’ spokesperson declined to comment on the report, stating that they do not address personal matters. The report’s findings were shared with campaign strategists for House Republicans, leading the Congressional Leadership Fund to withdraw its support for Santos. However, Rep. Elise Stefanik campaigned with Santos even after the report was compiled. Stefanik’s spokesperson declined to comment on the report. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy expressed reservations about Santos’ background but did not confirm whether he had seen the vulnerability report. The extensive report, spanning over 100 pages, raises concerns about Santos’ campaign finance activities, echoing the criminal charges brought against him, such as discrepancies in disclosures to Congress. Santos has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has denied some of the allegations in TV interviews. The report criticizes Santos’ claimed education at NYU and Baruch College, where there is no record of him earning a degree. It also points out his past employment at Harbor City Capital, a firm accused by the SEC of operating as a Ponzi scheme. The report highlights a YouTube video in which Santos praised the company’s leadership, despite its questionable practices. Santos has claimed that he was unaware of any wrongdoing at the company. The report also mentions Santos’ tenure at a Turkish-based online travel booking company, which received negative reviews from customers calling it a scam. The report raises concerns about Santos’ campaign finance discrepancies, similar to the criminal charges against him. It contrasts his claims of financial success with his 2020 disclosure, which showed an earned income of $55,000. The report questions the source of funding for his first campaign, including donations from individuals with questionable backgrounds, such as a landlord on the “worst landlords” list. Personal matters are also addressed in the report, including Santos’ marriage to Uadla Vieira and allegations about her immigration status. The report suggests that while married to Santos, Vieira may not have been legally allowed to work in the United States. Additionally, the report indicates that Santos had a relationship with an undocumented immigrant named Pedro Vilarva and that Vilarva referred to himself as “Pedro Santos” at one point. Santos publicly identifies as gay.
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