The Republican Jewish Coalitionslammed Rep.-elect George Santos (R-N.Y.) for lying about his heritage, claiming he deceived the group.

During his congressional campaign, Santos repeatedly claimed his mother was born to Jews who had fled Nazi persecution in World War II. He tried to explain the comments in an interview with the New York Post published Monday.

I never claimed to be Jewish, Santos told the Post . I am Catholic. Because I learned my maternal family had a Jewish background, I said I was Jew-ish.

The Jewish publication The Forward reported Tuesday that Santos had called himself a proud American Jew on documents shared with Jewish leaders during his campaign.

We are very disappointed in Congressman-elect Santos, the RJC said in a statement released Tuesday. He deceived us and misrepresented his heritage. In public comments and to us personally, he previously claimed to be Jewish. He has begun his tenure in Congress on a very wrong note.