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Central Islip, New York — Rep. George Santos, a Republican congressman who won a pivotal New York state victory, accuses him of wire fraud after it was revealed he falsified his biography during the campaign was indicted by federal prosecutors on a broad indictment. , money laundering, stealing public funds, and lying on federal disclosure forms.
Santos appeared before authorities in federal court on Long Island Wednesday morning, after which the indictment was unsealed. He is scheduled to appear before a magistrate on Wednesday afternoon.
Federal prosecutors center allegations that Santos was involved in three separate schemes.
Most of the indictment focuses on allegations that Santos directed an unnamed political consultant to solicit fraudulent political contributions to companies that he falsely claimed were political funds. Prosecutors say Santos used the money for personal expenses, including the purchase of designer clothes and credit card payments.
The indictment also accuses Santos of fraudulently claiming unemployment benefits made available during the coronavirus pandemic. Federal prosecutors said Santos worked for a Florida-based investment firm, and he received more than $24,000 in unemployment benefits.
And prosecutors say Santos knowingly made false statements on financial disclosure forms in 2020 and 2022 to mislead the House and the public about his financial situation. The indictment accuses Santos of falsely inflating his 2020 and 2022 salaries, failing to disclose some of his income, and lying about the amounts in his checking and savings accounts.
The federal prosecutor’s decision to take action against Mr. Santos marked a drastic change in the fortunes of the earliest congressman, who turned from a symbol of a Republican revival to a scandal-plagued political punching bag.
However, it is unlikely to affect his immediate position in Congress.Amid growing calls among Republicans at large for Santos’ resignation, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he would not allow Santos to continue in office. issued a signal to accept the
Santos has been under fire since the New York Times and other media outlets last December began reporting the many lies Santos told voters about his career, personal finances, and election history. I’ve been surrounded by questions about funding. campaign trajectory.
Subsequent reports revealed how Santos handled the finances of an animal protection charity he claimed to have run before running for Congress, and how he ran personal business and political campaigns. Doubts about what was mixed became clear. Also, there was a lot of fraud in the way his campaign spent and raised money.
A lawsuit against Santos has been filed by the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, which has led one of its investigations into Santos’ finances and campaigns.
Federal prosecutors have charged Mr. Santos with seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds, and two counts of making material false statements to the House of Representatives.
The indictment cites two contributors who donated $25,000 to a company run by Santos. The indictment did not identify the contributors, but people familiar with the matter said they were Raymond Tantilo, a Long Island businessman who owns a network of car dealerships, and Andrew, a wealthy investor.・It was identified as an introducer.
Tantillo’s attorney, Robert C. Gottlieb, who purchased the $19 million yacht from another donor in a deal brokered by Santos, declined to comment.
Mr. Intrater’s attorney, Richard D. Owens, issued a statement saying that from the outset his client “supported the government investigation into Mr. George Santos and was a contributor as a victim of the indictment. identified as 2,” he said. “Andy is pleased that Santos will have to answer in court about the many lies George told Andy and many other Americans.”
Santos could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which worked with the FBI and the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office to investigate.
Santos, who has received media attention in recent weeks, including appearing outside a Manhattan courthouse where former President Donald J. Trump was being arraigned, has not publicly commented on the charges against him. . A Washington spokeswoman referred all questions to Santos’ attorney, who did not respond to a request for comment.
But for months, Santos has denied any wrongdoing, even as he admits to lying about going to college and working for a prestigious Wall Street company.
Santos will appear before Judge Anne Y. Shields on Wednesday to hear the government’s case against him. Shortly thereafter, prosecutors will discuss terms of release they deem appropriate to ensure Mr. Santos’s return to court.
He could be released on his own accord or requested to be released on monetary bail. He may be asked for his passport.
It is not yet clear if Santos will file a petition or be asked to do so at a subsequent hearing.
Santos is currently facing an investigation by the House Ethics Committee to determine whether he failed to properly complete the required financial disclosure forms, violated federal conflict of interest laws, or committed other misconduct during his election campaign. are investigating whether they were involved in
At a news conference Wednesday, Republican House leaders insisted Santos was innocent until proven guilty. suggested that the focus was on
Republican Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana said of Santos, “He’s already been removed from all committees.” “There is a presumption of innocence in America, but it’s a serious charge. He’ll have to go through the legal process.”
Santos is also facing criminal charges in Brazil for check fraud stemming from a 2008 incident. Using stolen checkbooks and a pseudonym, Santos spent nearly $700 at a store near Rio de Janeiro, according to court records. Santos said he confessed to the theft in 2010, but the case was put on hold after police and prosecutors were unable to locate him after he moved to the United States.
A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Thursday.
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