New York: US Representative George SantosDisgraced New York Republican arrested for fabricating key parts of his life story federal criminal charges ahead of an expected court appearance on Wednesday.
The indictment states that Santos induced supporters to donate to a company under the false pretenses that the money would be used to support his campaign. Instead, it says, he used it for personal expenses, including buying luxury designer clothes and paying off his credit cards.
US attorney Brian Peace The indictment “attempts to hold Santos accountable for various alleged fraudulent schemes and brazen misrepresentations.”
Peace said, “Taken together, the allegations in the indictment accuse Santos of repeatedly relying on dishonesty and deception in the halls of Congress and enriching himself.”
Santos was expected to appear in a preliminary court appearance at a federal courthouse on Long Island later Wednesday, at which time the charges against him would be dropped.
Santos, reached by the AP on Tuesday, said he was not aware of the allegations.
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, she did not work at the large financial firms she claimed had hired her, did not attend college and struggled financially before running for public office.
Questions also emerged about his finances. In regulatory filings, Santos said he had loaned more than $750,000 to his campaign and related political action committees, but it was unclear how he could have come into this property so quickly after years in which he paid his rent. Struggled to make payments and faced several eviction proceedings. ,
In a financial disclosure form, Santos reported receiving $750,000 per year and dividends from a family company, the Devolder Organization. He later described that business as a broker for the sale of luxury items such as yachts and aircraft. The business was incorporated in Florida shortly after Santos stopped working as a salesman for a company accused by federal authorities of operating an illegal Ponzi scheme.
Several of Santos’ fellow New York Republicans called on him to resign after his fabrication history came to light. As news of the criminal case spread, some people criticized him.
“Listen, Jorge Santos should have resigned in December. Jorge Santos should have resigned in January. Jorge Santos should have resigned yesterday. And maybe he will resign today. But sooner or later, whether Whether he chooses or not, both truth and justice will be provided to him,” said US Representative Mark Molinaro, a Republican who represents parts of upstate New York.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was more circumspect, saying, “I think in America, you’re innocent until proven guilty.”
Santos has previously faced criminal investigations.
When he was 19, he was the subject of a criminal investigation in Brazil for allegedly using stolen checks to purchase goods at a clothing store. Brazilian authorities said they had reopened the case.
In 2017, Santos was charged with theft in Pennsylvania after authorities said he used thousands of dollars in fraudulent checks to buy puppies from dog breeders. That case was dismissed after Santos claimed that his checkbook had been stolen, and the dogs had been taken by someone else.
Federal authorities are separately looking into complaints about Santos’ work raising money for a group to help neglected and abused pets. A New Jersey veteran accused Santos of failing to pay $3,000 he raised to help his pet dog get needed surgery.
The indictment states that Santos induced supporters to donate to a company under the false pretenses that the money would be used to support his campaign. Instead, it says, he used it for personal expenses, including buying luxury designer clothes and paying off his credit cards.
US attorney Brian Peace The indictment “attempts to hold Santos accountable for various alleged fraudulent schemes and brazen misrepresentations.”
Peace said, “Taken together, the allegations in the indictment accuse Santos of repeatedly relying on dishonesty and deception in the halls of Congress and enriching himself.”
Santos was expected to appear in a preliminary court appearance at a federal courthouse on Long Island later Wednesday, at which time the charges against him would be dropped.
Santos, reached by the AP on Tuesday, said he was not aware of the allegations.
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, she did not work at the large financial firms she claimed had hired her, did not attend college and struggled financially before running for public office.
Questions also emerged about his finances. In regulatory filings, Santos said he had loaned more than $750,000 to his campaign and related political action committees, but it was unclear how he could have come into this property so quickly after years in which he paid his rent. Struggled to make payments and faced several eviction proceedings. ,
In a financial disclosure form, Santos reported receiving $750,000 per year and dividends from a family company, the Devolder Organization. He later described that business as a broker for the sale of luxury items such as yachts and aircraft. The business was incorporated in Florida shortly after Santos stopped working as a salesman for a company accused by federal authorities of operating an illegal Ponzi scheme.
Several of Santos’ fellow New York Republicans called on him to resign after his fabrication history came to light. As news of the criminal case spread, some people criticized him.
“Listen, Jorge Santos should have resigned in December. Jorge Santos should have resigned in January. Jorge Santos should have resigned yesterday. And maybe he will resign today. But sooner or later, whether Whether he chooses or not, both truth and justice will be provided to him,” said US Representative Mark Molinaro, a Republican who represents parts of upstate New York.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was more circumspect, saying, “I think in America, you’re innocent until proven guilty.”
Santos has previously faced criminal investigations.
When he was 19, he was the subject of a criminal investigation in Brazil for allegedly using stolen checks to purchase goods at a clothing store. Brazilian authorities said they had reopened the case.
In 2017, Santos was charged with theft in Pennsylvania after authorities said he used thousands of dollars in fraudulent checks to buy puppies from dog breeders. That case was dismissed after Santos claimed that his checkbook had been stolen, and the dogs had been taken by someone else.
Federal authorities are separately looking into complaints about Santos’ work raising money for a group to help neglected and abused pets. A New Jersey veteran accused Santos of failing to pay $3,000 he raised to help his pet dog get needed surgery.