Rep. George Santos, R-NY, is in the spotlight once again. He became notorious for lying when he ran for his seat in 2020. Now, it seems he could be facing legal troubles for his questionable conduct.
CNN reported:
Three sources with knowledge of the case claim that federal prosecutors have brought criminal charges against New York Rep. George Santos. The Republican legislator whose pattern of lies, fabrications, and outright deceptions shocked even the most hardened politicians, has been charged.
Santos will appear in federal court on Wednesday, in New York’s Eastern District. The charges were filed under seal.
It was not immediately clear what the exact charges were, but FBI public integrity prosecutors and Justice Department prosecutors in New York City and Washington DC have been investigating allegations of false statements made in Santo’s campaign finance filings as well as other claims.
Santos was also investigated by multiple jurisdictions, including the House Ethics Committee.
Santos’ claims about his career and past were scrutinized last year when they came under scrutiny. He made several false statements during his campaign, including that he was Jewish and had worked for several large corporations before entering politics.
In an interview with The New York Post, Santos appeared to be honest about the many lies he had told. Santos admitted that he misrepresented his college enrollment and employment history with high-profile Wall Street companies. He admitted that he did not graduate from college. He clarified that his previous employer Link Bridge had done business with Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, and other Wall Street firms.
He also responded to accusations that he lied about his family background, sexual orientation and was a non-paying tenant. He expressed his determination to fulfill his two-year congressional term and keep his campaign promises despite the controversy.
Santos was also criticized for falsely claiming that he was Jewish on his website. The website claimed that Santos’ mother was Jewish, and his grandparents had escaped Nazism. He clarified that while he is Catholic, his maternal family was Jewish. This led him to call himself “Jewish.”
The lawmaker confirmed that he was married to a female until his divorce in 2017 and that he now is happily married to another man. Santos also admitted that he had failed to pay his former landlord’s rent, citing financial hardships due to the medical debt of his mother. Santos also admitted to lying about his multiple properties. He revealed that he lives with his sister, but plans to buy his own home.
Santos, however, insisted that he wasn’t a criminal, and denied that he held a criminal record in Brazil. He said that the controversy wouldn’t hinder his effectiveness as a congressman, and he would concentrate on delivering results to the people. Santos clarified the assets listed in his financial disclosure statement were linked to his consulting company and claimed that his entire income came from it.
Senior House Republicans knew about the inaccuracies of Santos’s resume. While some thought it was a joke, others believed that voters would bring up the issue during the elections. Democrats repeatedly asked House Speaker Kevin McCarthy for him to ask Santos to step down, but McCarthy refused. Depending on the nature and severity of the charges, his brief political career could be over.