NEW YORK: US Representative George Santos, a newly elected Republican, was arrested on Wednesday on federal charges of fraud, money laundering, and theft of public funds.
The arrest deals a major blow to Santos, who has faced calls to resign after admitting to lying about his resume. The charges were outlined in a 13-count indictment unsealed on Wednesday.
According to the indictment, Santos, 34, is accused of defrauding potential political supporters by using laundered funds to cover personal expenses.
Additionally, he allegedly received unemployment benefits while being employed and made false statements about his assets, income, and liabilities to the House of Representatives.
The US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Breon Peace, stated that Santos relied on repeated dishonesty and deception to secure his position in Congress and enrich himself.
Peace further explained that Santos used political contributions for personal gain, unlawfully applied for pandemic-related unemployment benefits meant for those who had lost their jobs, and lied to the House of Representatives.
Santos’s congressional office declined to comment, referring inquiries to his counsel. As of now, his attorney has not responded to requests for comment regarding the indictment.
In response to Santos’s arrest, top House Republicans, who currently hold a narrow 222-213 majority in the chamber, have chosen to reserve judgment.
Speaker Kevin McCarthy emphasized the principle of presumed innocence until proven guilty during a press conference, stating that in America, individuals are innocent until proven guilty.
Santos elected US Representative in 2022
Santos’s troubles began shortly after his election in 2022, when media outlets, including The New York Times, exposed his fabrications about his personal and professional history.
He had falsely claimed to possess degrees from New York University and Baruch College, despite no records of his attendance at either institution. Santos also made untrue assertions about his employment at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup.
Moreover, Santos falsely portrayed himself as Jewish, claiming that his grandparents had escaped the Nazis during World War Two. He failed to disclose his previous marriage to a woman that lasted until 2019, despite identifying as gay.
Since then, Santos has admitted to fabricating significant portions of his resume, casting doubt on his credibility and raising concerns about his suitability for public office.
