Embattled US congressman is accused of defrauding potential political supporters, amongst different federal expenses.
United States Representative George Santos has been arrested on federal expenses of fraud, cash laundering and theft of public funds within the newest hit to the newly elected Republican, who has resisted calls to resign for mendacity about his resume.
The 13-count indictment, unsealed on Wednesday, charged Santos, 34, with defrauding potential political supporters by laundering funds to pay for his private bills and illegally receiving unemployment advantages whereas he was employed.
He’s additionally accused of constructing false statements to the Home of Representatives about his belongings, earnings and liabilities.
“Taken collectively, the allegations within the indictment cost Santos with counting on repeated dishonesty and deception to ascend to the halls of Congress and enrich himself,” Breon Peace, the US legal professional for the Jap District of New York, stated in a press release.
“He used political contributions to line his pockets, unlawfully utilized for unemployment advantages that ought to have gone to New Yorkers who had misplaced their jobs because of the pandemic, and lied to the Home of Representatives,” Peace stated.
Santos’s congressional workplace referred requests for remark from Reuters to his counsel. A lawyer for Santos didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark from the information company concerning the indictment.
Prime Home Republicans, who control the chamber by a slim 222-213 margin, have up to now stated they might withhold judgement on Santos. Speaker Kevin McCarthy informed reporters on Wednesday, “In America, you’re harmless till confirmed responsible.”
Shortly after Santos’s election in 2022 to signify a rich space of New York’s Lengthy Island, the New York Instances and different media retailers revealed that he had fabricated many elements of his private {and professional} historical past.
Amongst different claims, Santos stated he had levels from New York College and Baruch School regardless of neither establishment’s having any report of his attending. He claimed to have labored at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, which additionally was unfaithful.
He stated falsely that he was Jewish and that his grandparents escaped the Nazis throughout World Struggle II. Santos, who identifies as homosexual, additionally didn’t disclose that he was married to a lady for a number of years ending in 2019.
He has since admitted to fabricating massive components of his resume.
