Scandal-plagued GOP Representative George Santos, the 34-year-old out-gay lawmaker, recently suggested that politics is “boring” and that he can’t stand to watch C-SPAN. Santos sees it as his duty to make politics more “entertaining” for the masses.
Pop Culture and Politics Collide
In an interview with CBS reporter Marcia Kramer on The Point, Santos discussed his reasons for introducing the “Minaj Act” (HR 2631), officially named the Medical Information Nuanced Accountability Judgement (MINAJ) Act of 2023. The legislation, which has yet to attract co-sponsors, establishes a development period for new vaccines to generate public confidence. It aims to “prohibit the Federal Government from imposing any mandate requiring an individual to receive a vaccine that has not been authorized for marketing for at least 10 years.”
When questioned about the inspiration behind the bill’s name, Santos explained that he wanted to combine pop culture and politics to engage a younger generation that doesn’t typically enjoy or pay attention to politics. Naming the bill after rapper Nicki Minaj, who was vocal about her opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates, was Santos’ attempt to “open the doors to politics to a whole new window of people.”
Addressing Notoriety and Résumé Scandal
During the interview, Kramer pushed Santos about lying on his résumé, asking if it was an intentional strategy to inflate his standing in Congress. Santos responded, saying it was a “stupid, stupid, stupid decision” and that he, like every human, made a mistake and is now paying the consequences. Santos recently announced his intention to run for re-election in his New York district in 2024 and suggested that he wishes to turn his notoriety to his advantage.
Facing Criminal Charges
However, Santos’ political future remains uncertain. As this article was being prepared, CNN broke the news that Federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against Santos. The charges are currently under seal, and neither the Justice Department, FBI, nor Santos have confirmed what they might be.
