Numerous headlines and allegations of lying against Republican politician, George Santos, are trending all over the internet. Among the mistruths, Santos claimed he is of Jewish descent, graduated from Baruch College, and worked for Citigroup.

In reality, none of these “facts” about Santos are true. These statements were investigated, and many news outlets have confirmed that Santos was just embellishing his resume and posing as someone he is not. When questioned by the New York Times, Santos apologized for his insensitive claims. Photos surfaced on the internet showing Santos as a drag queen performer in Brazil, though he had denied participating in that activity. Later on, Santos backtracked on his claims and said he “dressed in drag” but was never an “actual” a drag queen.

Having politicians like Santos exposed for their lying leads me to question the extent to which a society must stop and analyze who is running for office and who is representing us. In fact, at what point do we hold them accountable for their actions and quit putting those who do not deserve their power on a pedestal? Over the years, countless government officials, politicians, and recognizable figures have led our country despite their controversial past and present mistakes. Even though there have been obvious signs these people shouldn’t continue to hold office, they still do. There has to be a point where we say enough, and recognize that people like this should not have the privilege to govern our country.

How can we be satisfied with politicians who aren’t representing the qualities of a good leader, let alone a good human being? What does this say about the American people? We shouldn’t settle for or support those who lie about the truth, cover up what should be shared, and act in certain ways just to gain a foot in the political door. Who is to say that those same people aren’t going to lie to the American people and advocate for their own personal interests and needs above the country?

As for Santos, he has a lot of work to do to gain back the trust and confidentiality he has with many of his supporters and colleagues. Do people make mistakes? Of course, everyone is human. They deserve chances to reflect and improve on their mistakes. Although this is true,  this does not excuse them from consequences.

Moving forward, we need to be more conscious of who we choose to put on a pedestal and allow to represent our nation, because at the end of the day, the future of this country is, in part, is in their hands.