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(CNN) Federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against New York Rep. George Santos, according to three sources familiar with the matter. He is a Republican congressman whose astonishing pattern of lies and fabrications has left even hardened politicians dumbfounded.
Santos is also scheduled to appear Wednesday in federal court for the Eastern District of New York, where the indictment was filed under seal.
The exact nature of the allegations was not immediately known, but the FBI in New York and Washington and the Justice Department’s Public Order Prosecutor are investigating allegations of misrepresentation in Santos’ campaign-finance filings and other allegations.
Lawyers for the House of Representatives declined to comment. Spokesmen for the Brooklyn U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Justice Department and the FBI declined to comment.
Santos skipped the House vote on Tuesday night and was on his way back to New York, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Santos spokeswoman Naytha Womer walked out of the congressman’s D.C. office with a backpack on Tuesday afternoon when asked about the federal charges against him, not answering barked questions from reporters. Left. Before she left the office, CNN witnessed three Santos staff members suddenly leave with their bags. When asked for comment, they did not open their mouths.
A freshman congressman elected last year to represent a district that includes parts of Long Island and Queens is under investigation by multiple jurisdictions and the House Ethics Committee.
Democrats, including Republicans in New York state, are calling for Santos to step down over allegations ranging from criminal misconduct during the campaign to petty personal misconduct dating back more than a decade. .
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he would review the charges before deciding whether Santos should be removed from Congress.
A California Republican told CNN on Tuesday, “We will consider the charges.
Santos was spotted by CNN in the Capitol earlier in the day walking in and out of McCarthy’s office. I didn’t.
During his short tenure, Santos has been accused of campaign finance violations, federal conflict of interest law violations, stealing cash for a dying dog of an Iraq War veteran, mastermind a credit card fraud scheme, and accusations of school and hometown. He has been accused of lying and other crimes. I worked.
Santos has admitted to making misleading claims about his education and financial status, but continues to deny the more serious allegations.
Santos, who won last year’s election, followed the Republican middle-man tactic and criticized his Democratic opponents on crime and inflation. The message reverberated in New York suburbs, where the Republican candidate won a narrow majority in the House for his four seats.
But as Santos’ past came under scrutiny, it became clear that much of his official biography was conjured out of thin air, and he increasingly adapted a right-wing troll persona.
He has voiced his support for former President Donald Trump and once claimed that Democrats were “trying to ban toilet paper.”
Santos faces pressure from party
New York Republicans have tried to distance themselves from Santos, claiming they know nothing about his shadowy past, and some have repeatedly pressured him to resign. .
“We reiterate our call for the resignation of George Santos,” New York State Rep. Mike Lawler said in a statement. Lawler, who last year stole a seat held by Democrats in upstate New York City, is expected to face serious trouble in 2024.
Republicans in more conservative districts were less clear.
New York State Rep. Nicole Mariotakis told CNN, “I’m not surprised. I understand this was the intention,” but didn’t go so far as to call on Santos to resign.
A Staten Island Republican said, “We’d love to see someone else run for office because we can keep that seat.
Republican Rep. Ryan Zink of Montana and Blake Moore of Utah pointed to the House Ethics Committee’s investigation of Santos.
“If there is an ethical investigation and it reveals anything, he should be removed,” Moore said.
“If there is an accusation and the accusation is credible, (the ethics committee) should consider it,” Zinke told CNN.
“I’m amazed that (Santos) has lived this long,” Zinke said. He stepped down as head of the Interior Department during the Trump administration amid multiple investigations. (The inspector general’s report later found that he had misused his position.)
Arkansas Rep. French Hill, who is close to the House GOP leader, said he would like to see the charges, but said, “If members of Congress are indicted for federal crimes, I believe they should resign. There are,’ he added.
Meanwhile, Democrats have shaken off their embarrassment for not exposing Mr. Santos sooner ahead of what is expected to be a high-priced campaign to reclaim him and other seats in the neighborhood in 2024. trying to pay
“Now that Santos is indicted, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has an obligation to remove Santos’ stain on this hallowed institution by immediately removing him from Congress,” said former federal prosecutor and Trump vice president. New York Representative Daniel Goldman, the first impeachment attorney, said. , said in a statement. “I can’t wait any longer.”
The crack in Santos’ façade first made national headlines in late December 2022, when the New York Times conducted a lengthy investigation questioning much of the personal story it pitched to voters during the election campaign. It was when I posted. But what followed was often stranger than fiction. From claims that he stole a dog from an Amish dairy farm to his own past claims that he played high-level college volleyball – all false – there have been a seemingly endless series of new revelations.
As the story piled up, former friends and associates of Santos came forward and began sharing stories alleging that Santos deceived or misled them about money and professional situations. A former roommate of the congressman told CNN earlier this year that Santos showed signs of “megalomania” while living together.
“Finally the truth comes out,” said Gregory Molly Parker, who accused Santos of stealing the scarf.
can remain in parliament
From a legal standpoint, the indictment does not affect Santos’ status as a member of parliament. Except for the Fourteenth Amendment prohibition of certain acts of treason after a legislator is sworn into office, there is nothing in the Constitution that prevents an individual who has been criminally charged or convicted from taking office.
According to a report from the Congressional Research Service, the US House of Representatives’ formal rule states that “an indicted member may continue to participate in the proceedings and deliberations of Congress.”
However, if lawmakers are convicted of a crime that carries a penalty of two years or more in prison, they are instructed under House rules not to vote on the floor or vote on committees.
When asked if he would continue to support Santos, McCarthy said on CNN Tuesday that his policy was that any convicted lawmaker should resign, citing an ex-member who resigned after being found guilty of concealing information. He mentioned Republican Rep. Jeff Fortenberry. Making false statements to federal authorities in connection with investigations of illegal campaign contributions.
“Like Jeff Fortenberry before him, he had the same abilities. I removed him from the committee, but he was found guilty and told him he needed to resign. It’s my policy and principle,” McCarthy said.
This story has been updated with additional details.
CNN’s Tierney Sneed, Manu Raju, Nicky Robertson, Haley Talbot, and Jack Forrest contributed to this report.
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