The saga of freshly installed New York congressman George Santos invites broad debate over one central question: what price should politicians pay for lying? The question is short but not simple. A sarcastic retort almost writes itself, to the effect that if lying is universally disqualifying, Congress would be able to meet inside a midsize car. But any serious analysis requires the answers to several questions. What kind of lies? When were they told? For what purpose? Has the offender shown remorse? Is that remorse credible? And once the gravity of the offense has been weighed, what is the proper...