Topline
Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) pleaded not guilty to fraud and money laundering charges in federal court in New York state on Wednesday, hours after the first-term Republican—whose first four months in office have been plagued by scandals—was indicted and as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle call on him to step down or be kicked out of the House.
Rep. George Santos (R-NY) was indicted Wednesday on 13 counts of fraud, money laundering and … [+]
Key Facts
Santos was arrested and taken into custody Wednesday morning, and faces 13 federal charges, including wire fraud, money laundering and falsifying financial statements to the House of Representatives.
Santos pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in New York’s Eastern District on Long Island, and was released on $500,000 bond, Department of Justice spokesperson Danielle Hass told Forbes.
Santos, who faces mounting pressure to resign or be expelled from Congress, will reportedly hold a press conference following his arraignment—federal District Judge Anne Shields did not allow reporters to carry phones inside the courtroom.
If convicted, Santos faces a maximum of 20 years in prison on the top counts, according to the Department of Justice.
Joe Murray, attorney for Rep. George Santos (R-NY), arrived at Federal Court in Central Islip, New … [+]
What To Watch For
Santos, who launched his 2024 reelection campaign last month, can still serve in Congress while indicted—a precedent set by a group of four lawmakers who were indicted since 2015 and continued to serve even after their indictments, the New York Times reported. Three of the four resigned after or shortly before pleading guilty, though Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) remains in the Senate after a federal jury failed to reach a verdict.
Key Background
Santos’ short time in office has been mired by controversy, with reports of him embellishing his resume and repeatedly lying about his background piling up just weeks after he won in the midterm elections in November, flipping New York’s 3rd congressional district from Democratic to Republican control. Those reports included lies about his family’s supposed Jewish heritage, his mother dying in the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City and his work history. It quickly sparked calls for his resignation, including from his local Nassau County Republican Party—though House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) told reporters Tuesday night he won’t urge Santos to resign or be ousted from the House unless he’s found guilty. According to the indictment, Santos orchestrated a months-long scheme to defraud contributors to his House campaign, directing donations to a Florida-based LLC under false pretenses the money would go directly to his campaign, when in reality he spent thousands of dollars on his own expenses. Santos also allegedly falsified financial statements to the House of Representatives while campaigning in 2020 and again in 2022, and applied for unemployment benefits through the state of New York for nearly a year, even when he was employed and making roughly $120,000 per year.
Further Reading
Here Are The Allegations Against George Santos, Indicted On Fraud Charges (Forbes)
George Santos Charged With Federal Wire Fraud And Money Laundering (Forbes)
George Santos Indicted: Republican Lawmakers Criticize GOP Rep.—But McCarthy Still Won’t Push Him To Resign (Forbes)
Disgraced Rep. George Santos Announces 2024 Reelection Campaign (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2023/05/10/george-santos-pleads-not-guilty-to-fraud-charges/