US Representative George Santos, notorious for fabricating his life story, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges he defrauded donors, stole from his campaign and lied to Congress about being a millionaire while on unemployment. cheated to get benefits to which they were not entitled.
Afterwards, he said he would not abandon his re-election bid and defied calls to resign.
Santos’s 13-count federal indictment was one count for a web of fraud and deceit that prosecutors say overlapped with the New York Republican’s fictional public image as a wealthy businessman – a fictionalized biography designed to win election. started after.
Santos, 34, was released on $500,000 bond following his arraignment, about five hours after facing charges of wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds and making false statements to Congress. He surrendered his passport and could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.
“This is the beginning of my ability to address and defend myself,” a cheerful belligerent Santos told reporters as he waved outside the Long Island federal courthouse. He said he was cooperating with the investigation and vowed to fight the prosecution, which he labeled a “witch hunt.”
His attorney, Joseph Murray, was more circumspect, saying: “Any time the federal government comes after you, it’s a serious matter. We have to take it seriously.”
Santos said he planned to return to Washington, where the impeachment is raising doubts about the new incumbent’s ability to serve. House Republican leaders are taking a wait-and-see approach, saying Santos is innocent until proven guilty. Others are repeating previous calls for Santos to step down.
“I think we’re seeing the wheels of justice move slowly, but they grind fine,” said Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney, who confronted Santos at President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address in February. did.
Asked about Santos on Wednesday, Biden said, “I’m not commenting,” adding that anything he said would be construed as interfering with the investigation. Asked whether Congress should expel Santos, Biden said, “That’s for Congress to decide.”
Among the charges, prosecutors say Santos created a company and then induced supporters to donate under the false pretenses that the money would be used to support his campaign. Instead, they say, she used the money for personal expenses, including designer clothes and credit card and car payments.
Santos is also accused of lying about his finances on congressional disclosure forms and receiving unemployment benefits while earning $120,000 as regional director of an investment firm, which the government will close in 2021 because of the allegations. Granted it was a Ponzi scheme.
The indictment seeks to “hold Santos accountable for various alleged fraud schemes and brazen misrepresentations,” said US Attorney Breonna Peace. “Taken together, the allegations in the indictment accuse Santos of relying on repeated dishonesty and deception to ascend the halls of Congress and enrich himself.”
Santos did not directly address the specifics of the allegations to reporters, but when asked why he received unemployment benefits while on the job, Santos cited job changes and confusion during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Santos, dressed in his usual crewneck sweater, blazer and khakis, spoke little during the convulsion that lasted about 15 minutes. Reporters spread from the gallery to the jury box, joined by a handful of constituents.
“He should be thrown out of Congress and put in jail,” declared Jeff Herzberg, a Long Island resident who waited hours to watch Santos’ arraignment. “I hope that day comes soon.”
Santos was last elected to Congress after a campaign based partly on lies. He told people he was a wealthy Wall Street dealmaker with a substantial real estate portfolio, who was a star volleyball player in college, among other things.
In fact, Santos did not work at the large financial firms he said employed him, did not attend college, and struggled financially before entering politics. He claimed he fueled his runs largely with self-made money earned from brokering deals on expensive toys for wealthy clients, but the indictment alleges those claims were exaggerated as well.
In a House financial disclosure form, Santos reported making $750,000 a year from a family company, the Devolder Organization, but the allegations were dropped Wednesday, citing allegations that Santos never received that amount, nor $1 million and $5 million in dividends that he listed. firm.
Santos describes the Devolder organization as a pimp for the sale of luxury items such as yachts and aircraft. The business was incorporated in Florida shortly after Santos stopped working for Harbor City Capital, a company accused by federal authorities of operating an illegal Ponzi scheme.
In November 2021, Santos formed Redstone Strategies, a Florida company that federal prosecutors say defrauded donors to finance his lifestyle. According to the indictment, Santos asked an associate to contribute to the company and gave that person contact information for potential donors.
The indictment states that the email to potential donors falsely claimed that the company was created “specifically” to aid Santos’ election bid and that there would be no limit on how much they could contribute. Santos falsely claimed the money would be spent on television commercials and other campaign expenses, it said.
The indictment states that a month before the election, Santos transferred approximately $74,000 from the company to bank accounts. He also transferred money to some of his associates.
Santos’ legal troubles date back to his teenage years, when he was investigated in Brazil for allegedly using stolen checks to buy clothes – a case that authorities say they want to reopen. went.
In 2017, Santos was charged with theft in Pennsylvania for using thousands of dollars in fraudulent checks to purchase puppies from breeders. The case was dismissed after Santos claimed that his checkbook had been stolen and that someone else had taken the dogs.
Federal authorities are separately looking into complaints about Santos’ fundraising for a group that purported to help abused pets. A New Jersey veteran accused Santos of failing to return $3,000 he raised to help his dog get needed surgery.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)