Rep. George Santos (R-NY) has surrendered to authorities after being charged with multiple financial crimes in federal court.
Santos has been charged with seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds, and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives, the Department of Justice announced Tuesday.
MCCARTHY WON’T CALL FOR SANTOS RESIGNATION UNLESS CONVICTED: ‘INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY’
The freshman congressman will be arraigned Wednesday afternoon at a federal courthouse in Central Islip, New York, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Arlene Lindsay.
“This indictment seeks to hold Santos accountable for various alleged fraudulent schemes and brazen misrepresentations,” Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace said in a statement.
“Taken together, the allegations in the indictment charge Santos with relying on repeated dishonesty and deception to ascend to the halls of Congress and enrich himself. He used political contributions to line his pockets, unlawfully applied for unemployment benefits that should have gone to New Yorkers who had lost their jobs due to the pandemic, and lied to the House of Representatives,” he continued.
The Department of Justice alleged that Santos “defrauded prospective political supporters” by moving campaign funds into his personal bank account and using the funds for personal purchases, including “designer clothing,” among other uses.
Santos also allegedly received $24,000 in unemployment funds from June 2020 to April 2021 despite “working and receiving a salary on a near-continuous basis” during that time, per the DOJ.
The New York Republican also stands accused of making false statements to the House regarding finances connected to his 2020 and 2022 congressional campaigns. The DOJ alleged that he “overstated his income and assets.”
The Justice Department said the top charges against Santos carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if he is found guilty.
Shortly after the charges were announced, Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) called for Santos to be “immediately expelled” from the House of Representatives.
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“The people of New York’s 3rd district deserve a voice in congress. George Santos should be immediately expelled from Congress and a special election initiated at the soonest possible date,” Gonzales tweeted.
Santos’s future in the House of Representatives is now in question amid these charges, with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) saying he will not call for his resignation unless he is convicted of a crime. Republicans have a narrow majority, 222-213, in the House of Representatives.
