According to reports, federal authorities have charged George Santos, a Republican New York State Representative, with a crime. CNN reported on Tuesday that Santos is expected to appear in federal court in New York, possibly as early as Wednesday.
Federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York have been conducting an investigation into Santos’ finances, specifically looking into whether he misrepresented certain campaign finance forms. The details of the allegations remain unknown as they are currently under seal.
Upon learning about the charges, Santos seemed to feign ignorance, as a journalist reported that he pretended not to be aware of them. In a tweet, AP writer Farnoush Amiri stated, “I may have (inadvertently) just told Representative George Santos that he has been charged with a crime by the Justice Department. A few minutes earlier, he said, ‘That’s news to me.’ You’re the first to call me about this.”
George Santos, aged 34, was elected by voters in New York’s 3rd Congressional District in November, providing a much-needed boost for the Republicans in their quest to regain control of the House of Representatives. However, Santos, a freshman congressman, has faced increased scrutiny and eventually admitted to lying about his work and personal life. Despite this, he told the New York Post in December that he would not back down.
“I am not a criminal,” Santos insisted resolutely at the time. He expressed determination to continue his success as a lawmaker, stating that nothing would hinder him. Santos declared, “I can guarantee my success. I promise to be good.”
In January, Santos stepped aside from his committee duties amidst ongoing investigations and calls for his resignation, even from within his own party. However, in the subsequent weeks, the Long Island Republican adopted a defiant stance. He took to Twitter in February, stating, “Let me be very clear, I’m not leaving, I’m not hiding, and I’m not backing down.” On his 100th day in office, April 1, Santos announced his intention to run for re-election in 2024.
Kellen Curry, a former JPMorgan vice president and Afghanistan combat veteran, recently declared that he would launch a Republican campaign to unseat Santos from his House seat.