Josh Lafazan, a Democratic candidate for New York’s 3rd Congressional District, recently engaged in a heated Twitter exchange with scandal-plagued Rep. George Santos (R-NY), who is currently under fire for a series of lies regarding his education, employment history, and Jewish ancestry.
Lafazan, a Harvard graduate and descendant of a Holocaust survivor, called out Santos for his dishonesty, stating, “I didn’t have to lie to get elected. My credentials are clean, I’m actually Jewish, & unlike yours, my diploma from Harvard is real 😀.”
Unlike @Santos4Congress, I didn’t have to lie to get elected. My credentials are clean, I’m actually Jewish, & unlike yours, my diploma from Harvard is real 😀
Donate to my campaign to get this serial liar George Santos out of the house ⬇️⬇️⬇️https://t.co/IJUR80KfSl https://t.co/qhgBiFPRiA
— Josh Lafazan (@JoshLafazan) April 15, 2023
Santos fired back with a derogatory comment about Lafazan’s chin, to which Lafazan responded, “Corrective jaw surgery helped me breathe normally & saved my life. My insurance covered it, & it’s why I’m fighting so hard for universal health care. You are beneath the office you hold. And I can’t wait to replace you in Congress, in 2024 or sooner. Send postcards from jail 👋.”
Corrective jaw surgery helped me breathe normally & saved my life. My insurance covered it, & it’s why I’m fighting so hard for universal health care
You are beneath the office you hold. And I can’t wait to replace you in Congress, in 2024 or sooner.
Send postcards from jail 👋 https://t.co/3JYlOnSqna
— Josh Lafazan (@JoshLafazan) April 15, 2023
Santos has been exposed for fabricating most of his personal and professional background, including falsely claiming to be “halachically Jewish,” despite genealogical records showing no familial connection to Judaism. His claims have varied from describing himself as “Jewish,” “Jew-ish,” “half Jewish,” “a proud American Jew,” “a Latino Jew,” and a non-observant Jew, among others. The 34-year-old congressman, who was raised Catholic, has a history of misleading statements aimed at establishing a connection to Jewish heritage.
According to his campaign website, Lafazan’s stance on Israel is rooted in his Jewish heritage and commitment to fighting against antisemitism. As a Nassau County Legislator, Lafazan has worked to counteract the Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions (B.D.S.) movement, provided security resources for synagogues, and collaborated with law enforcement to hold perpetrators of antisemitic acts accountable.
Once in Congress, Lafazan plans to continue his fight against antisemitism, expand Holocaust education, and protect the special relationship between Israel and the United States. Lafazan supports the Abraham Accords and further normalization of relations between Israel and Arab nations. He also advocates for a two-state solution that creates the Jewish State of Israel and a demilitarized Palestine with the right to self-representation.
Lafazan was critical of the Iran nuclear deal and called for its renegotiation to better protect Israel, neighboring countries, and the world against an Iran with nuclear capabilities that support state-sponsored terrorism.
