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New York: US Representative George Santosa New York Republican infamous for making up key parts of his life story, was arrested in Federal criminal charges On the Wednesday before the expected court appearance.
The indictment says Santos urged his supporters to donate to a company under the false pretense that the money would be used to support his campaign. Instead, she says, he used it for personal expenses, including luxury clothing and paying off his credit cards.
American lawyer Hello Brion He said the indictment “seeks to hold Santos responsible for numerous alleged fraudulent schemes and brazen misrepresentations.”
“Considering the allegations in the indictment, Santos relied on repeated lies and deceit to climb the halls of Congress and enrich himself,” Pace said.
Santos was first expected to appear in court in a Long Island federal court later Wednesday, at which time the charges against him would be released.
Contacted by the Associated Press on Tuesday, Santos said he was unaware of the charges against him.
Santos was elected to Congress last fall after a campaign built in part on lies. He told people he was a wealthy Wall Street dealmaker with a large real estate portfolio and was a star volleyball player in college, among other things. In fact, he did not work for the major financial firms that he claimed hired him, did not go to college and struggled financially before running for public office.
Questions have also arisen about his finances. In regulatory filings, Santos said he lent his campaign and related PACs more than $750,000, but it was unclear how he would have acquired that kind of wealth so quickly after years in which he struggled to pay his rent and faced multiple eviction proceedings. .
On her financial disclosure form, Santos reported that she makes $750,000 a year plus earnings from a family business, Defolder Organization. He later described this business as a broker selling luxury items such as yachts and planes. The company was incorporated in Florida shortly after Santos stopped working as a seller for a company accused by federal authorities of operating an illegal Ponzi scheme.
Several of Santos’ fellow Republicans in New York called for him to resign after his history of defamations was exposed. Some renewed their criticism of him with the spread of news of the criminal case.
“Listen, George Santos should have resigned in December. George Santos should have resigned in January. George Santos should have resigned yesterday. And he probably should have resigned today,” said U.S. Rep. Mark Molinaro, a Republican who represents parts of upstate New York. : “Sooner or later, whether he chooses it or not, truth and justice will be delivered to him.”
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was more cautious, saying “I believe in America, you are innocent until proven guilty.”
Santos has faced criminal investigations before.
When he was 19, he was the subject of a criminal investigation in Brazil over allegations that he used stolen checks to purchase items 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. This case was dismissed after Santos claimed that his checkbook had been stolen and that someone else had taken the dogs.
Federal authorities are separately looking into complaints about Santos’ work to raise money for a group that allegedly helps neglected and abused pets. A New Jersey veteran has accused Santos of failing to provide the $3,000 he had raised to help his pet dog get the necessary surgery.
The indictment says Santos urged his supporters to donate to a company under the false pretense that the money would be used to support his campaign. Instead, she says, he used it for personal expenses, including luxury clothing and paying off his credit cards.
American lawyer Hello Brion He said the indictment “seeks to hold Santos responsible for numerous alleged fraudulent schemes and brazen misrepresentations.”
“Considering the allegations in the indictment, Santos relied on repeated lies and deceit to climb the halls of Congress and enrich himself,” Pace said.
Santos was first expected to appear in court in a Long Island federal court later Wednesday, at which time the charges against him would be released.
Contacted by the Associated Press on Tuesday, Santos said he was unaware of the charges against him.
Santos was elected to Congress last fall after a campaign built in part on lies. He told people he was a wealthy Wall Street dealmaker with a large real estate portfolio and was a star volleyball player in college, among other things. In fact, he did not work for the major financial firms that he claimed hired him, did not go to college and struggled financially before running for public office.
Questions have also arisen about his finances. In regulatory filings, Santos said he lent his campaign and related PACs more than $750,000, but it was unclear how he would have acquired that kind of wealth so quickly after years in which he struggled to pay his rent and faced multiple eviction proceedings. .
On her financial disclosure form, Santos reported that she makes $750,000 a year plus earnings from a family business, Defolder Organization. He later described this business as a broker selling luxury items such as yachts and planes. The company was incorporated in Florida shortly after Santos stopped working as a seller for a company accused by federal authorities of operating an illegal Ponzi scheme.
Several of Santos’ fellow Republicans in New York called for him to resign after his history of defamations was exposed. Some renewed their criticism of him with the spread of news of the criminal case.
“Listen, George Santos should have resigned in December. George Santos should have resigned in January. George Santos should have resigned yesterday. And he probably should have resigned today,” said U.S. Rep. Mark Molinaro, a Republican who represents parts of upstate New York. : “Sooner or later, whether he chooses it or not, truth and justice will be delivered to him.”
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was more cautious, saying “I believe in America, you are innocent until proven guilty.”
Santos has faced criminal investigations before.
When he was 19, he was the subject of a criminal investigation in Brazil over allegations that he used stolen checks to purchase items 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. This case was dismissed after Santos claimed that his checkbook had been stolen and that someone else had taken the dogs.
Federal authorities are separately looking into complaints about Santos’ work to raise money for a group that allegedly helps neglected and abused pets. A New Jersey veteran has accused Santos of failing to provide the $3,000 he had raised to help his pet dog get the necessary surgery.
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