GOP Rep. George Santos arrested on 13 federal charges, including theft and fraud
NY Republican Rep. George Santos arrested on 13 federal charges, including theft, fraud, money laundering, and making false statements.
According to an announcement by the Department of Justice, Republican Representative George Santos of New York has been apprehended on multiple federal charges. The charges include 13 counts such as theft, fraud, money laundering, and making false statements. Santos is accused of falsifying his life story, deceiving people about his finances, and enticing his supporters to donate money to a company he managed, which he then utilized for personal expenses such as luxurious clothing and credit card bills. Additionally, he allegedly lied about his finances on congressional disclosure forms and received unemployment benefits while being employed at an investment firm and running for Congress.
Even before assuming his role in office, Santos had found himself embroiled in several scandals. He claimed to be a successful Wall Street dealmaker with a significant real estate portfolio and a former college volleyball star, but none of it was true. In reality, he had never worked for any of the major financial institutions he had previously claimed to be associated with, nor had he attended college. Moreover, his financial struggles prior to his political career raised questions about the source of the large sum of money he claimed to have loaned his campaign and affiliated political action committees.
On Wednesday morning, Santos was taken into custody and currently remains in detention. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday afternoon at the federal court in Long Island, New York. The indictment accuses Santos of masterminding a scheme to deceive supporters of his congressional campaign into sending money to a company he managed in Florida, which he then used for his personal expenses. According to reports, thousands of dollars in campaign donations were spent on Santos' extravagant designer clothing and credit card bills.
In spite of bipartisan pressure to resign, the newly-elected Republican representative, George Santos, announced his intention to run for re-election in 2024. Santos' fellow New York Republicans have called for his resignation following the revelation of his fabrications, and some have amplified their criticisms since the news of his criminal charges became public.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Breon Peace stated that the indictment is meant to hold Santos accountable for multiple alleged fraudulent schemes and blatant misrepresentations. Peace added that the combined allegations in the indictment accuse Santos of relying on repeated dishonesty and deceit to reach the halls of Congress and enrich himself.
