USA
Fraud and theft: US Congressman Santos arrested
US Congressman George Santos is said to have swindled money from donors with false information during the election campaign. photo
© Aaron Schwartz/XinHua/dpa
Wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds and more: After the FBI had already investigated him, charges are now being brought against the Republican from New York.
US Congressman George Santos, who was the subject of much controversy over fabricated details in his résumé, has been charged with fraud in New York State and has been taken into temporary custody. A public prosecutor’s office on Long Island, east of New York, accuses the 34-year-old Republican of having fraudulently obtained money from donors with false information. He deceived these financiers in order to enrich himself.
In the indictment, Santos faces 13 counts of wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds and making false statements to the House of Representatives. At the official indictment on Wednesday, Santos pleaded not guilty and was released after posting $500,000 bail.
The Republican left the courthouse saying he was innocent and would prove his innocence. “It’s a witch hunt.” He will fight against it and has no intention of retiring from Congress. “I will not resign,” said the deputy. Instead, he announced that he would stick to his plans and run again in the next election.
Santos has been a member of the US House of Representatives since November for a New York district that also includes the boroughs of Queens and Long Island. Since then, allegations of fraud and deception have overshadowed his tenure. The Republican is said to have invented much of the resume he presented to voters in 2022. In March it was also announced that the FBI was investigating him for the alleged misappropriation of donations. It was not initially known on which of the various investigations the accusation was based.
Despite repeated calls for his resignation from Democrats and individual Republicans, Santos announced in mid-April that he wanted to run again in the congressional elections in November 2024. Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told CNN he would look at the charges before considering whether Santos should be removed from Congress.