Santos also made efforts to mislead the U.S. "From that point until April 2021 – when Santos was working and receiving a salary on a near-continuous basis and during his unsuccessful run for Congress – he falsely affirmed each week that he was eligible for unemployment benefits when he was not," the department said. He allegedly fraudulently received more than $24,000 in unemployment insurance benefits as a result. The DOJ also alleged Santos committed unemployment insurance fraud by applying for benefits through the New York State Department of Labor in June 2020, even though he was employed. He withdrew cash, discharged personal debts, transferred money to his associates and used the funds to make personal purchases, including of designer clothing, the DOJ claims. Santos allegedly transferred money from political donors into personal bank accounts during his campaign, using the funds for personal expenses, according to the Justice Department. The embattled Republican lawmaker acknowledged embellishing his educational background and job history but has denied most of the other allegations. Santos has also faced allegations of questionable campaign finances reporting and pilfering from a fundraising campaign for a dying dog. 11, 2001, attacks, graduating from Baruch College in Manhattan as a volleyball star and studying at New York University.
#Witch drawing professional#
Santos has repeatedly said he would not step down from Congress despite bipartisan calls for his resignation, though he did resign from his committee assignments in January.Īmong the claims Santos has made about his personal and professional life that have since been refuted: working at Citigroup or Goldman Sachs, losing four employees in the Pulse shooting, owning 13 properties, losing his mother in the Sept. A subcommittee of two Republicans and two Democrats established by the ethics committee are examining whether Santos engaged in "unlawful activity" during his 2022 campaign and investigating a sexual misconduct allegation involving a staffer. The New York congressman announced his reelection bid last month, despite facing an investigation from the House Ethics Committee on top of several state and federal investigations. Santos surrendered to authorities in Long Island on Wednesday morning, The New York Times first reported. House – rapidly elevated the freshman lawmaker's national profile, while drawing intense legal and ethical scrutiny. Santos' exaggerations and fabrications about his personal and professional life – revealed in large part after his election to the U.S. Santos' indictment and arrest are the latest development in the saga of his rise and fall, from his surprise flip of a New York seat to the House of Representatives in the 2022 midterms to the swift unraveling of his supposed life story. Santos’ lawyer, Joseph Murray, said in court that the Republican lawmaker plans to continue his reelection campaign and asked the judge for permission to travel freely, though he did surrender his passport. Santos said after the arraignment that he trusts his constituents to "decide what's best." "I'm going to fight the witch hunt, I'm going to take care of clearing my name and I look forward to doing that," Santos said. In a news conference following his arraignment, a defiant Santos maintained innocence and called the investigation a "witch hunt," echoing language frequently used by former President Donald Trump to undermine the legal probes he faces. "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," Peace said. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said in a statement that the charges against Santos aim to hold the freshman lawmaker accountable for numerous alleged "fraudulent schemes and brazen misrepresentations." The charges mark a significant escalation in the many legal and ethical probes the fabulist Republican lawmaker has faced since taking office. Breon Peace, U.S. If convicted, Santos could face up to 20 years in prison. He was released from custody on a $500,000 bond following his arraignment at a Long Island federal courthouse. Santos faces seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds and two counts of lying to the House of Representatives, according to an indictment unsealed Wednesday. George Santos pleaded not guilty Wednesday to 13 federal charges including fraud and lying to Congress. Watch Video: George Santos pleads not guilty in 13-count federal indictment
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