Topline
Embattled Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) denied reports he is mulling a plea deal with federal prosecutors in their fraud case against him on Tuesday after they said in court papers they are discussing “possible paths forward” with Santos, who could be removed from Congress if he is found guilty in the case.
Rep. George Santos (R-NY) arrives for an address by Israeli President Isaac Herzog during a joint … [+]
Key Facts
In a cryptic tweet on Tuesday, Santos wrote “word of the day: speculation,” and told a Talking Points Memo reporter that suggestions he is considering pleading guilty are “wildly inaccurate.”
Santos’ denial comes after federal prosecutors in New York asked a judge on Tuesday to delay a status conference scheduled for Thursday, citing the need to continue discussions about “possible paths forward” in the case.
Prosecutors also said they plan to make “another substantial production” of evidence to Santos and want to give his legal team time to review it.
Prosecutors working on a separate case filed against Santos’s former aide, Samuel Miele, who was charged last month with impersonating an aide employed by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), also asked the court to delay a status conference scheduled for Tuesday, citing “ongoing discovery review and plea negotiations.”
Surprising Fact
Santos, who has vehemently denied the allegations against him and insisted his name will be cleared, indicated for the first time in an interview last month that he may be open to a plea deal, telling NewsNation’s Dan Abrams, “Right now the answer is no, but you just never know what life is going to come at you.”
What To Watch For
A coalition of Congress members on both sides of the aisle have called for Santos’s resignation, and the the House Ethics Committee has opened a probe into his conduct. McCarthy, however, has been noncommittal about ejecting Santos and has said he would only support such an effort if the House Ethics committee found that he broke the law. Santos has been removed from his committee assignments amid the allegations, and McCarthy has said he will not support his re-election bid.
Key Background
Santos became embroiled in controversy shortly after he was elected to represent a Long Island district in November and reports revealed extensive lies about aspects of his personal and professional backgrounds. He was indicted in May on 13 felonies, including seven counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering, among other charges alleging he used campaign donations to pay for personal expenses, including designer clothes and credit card debt. He has pleaded not guilty in the case and claimed the allegations are part of a “witch hunt” against him, echoing former President Donald Trump’s preferred term in referencing his own legal woes. Miele was charged in August with aggravated identity theft and wire fraud, stemming from allegations he impersonated McCarthy’s chief of staff, Dan Meyer, to solicit campaign donations for Santos. Miele has also pleaded not guilty in the case.
Further Reading
Here Are The Allegations Against George Santos, Indicted On Fraud Charges (Forbes)
George Santos Indicted: Republican Lawmakers Criticize GOP Rep.—But McCarthy Still Won’t Push Him To Resign (Forbes)
George Santos’ Ex-Fundraiser Charged With Impersonating Top Aide Of House Speaker McCarthy During Donation Requests (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/09/05/george-santos-denies-he-might-plead-guilty-in-federal-fraud-case-as-prosecutors-suggest-plea-deal-is-in-the-works/