Republican congressman charged with fraud and money laundering among 13 counts
A leading American politician voted into power on a myriad of campaign falsehoods has been charged with 13 criminal offences.
George Santos, who is nicknamed the ‘Long Island Liar’, faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years if found guilty.
The Republican Congressman has been charged on a 13-count indictment, including seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds, and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives.
Today he was taken into custody in Long Island by the FBI after a months-long investigation into his conduct.
Since being elected last year, Mr Santos has been exposed for lying about his life story, work history, and education.
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Mr Santos induced supporters to donate to a company, according to the indictment (AP)Aside from the allegations which led to his criminal charges, he had previously fabricated large swathes of his life, including not disclosing a marriage, lying that his mother was killed on 9/11, claiming he was Jewish, accused of stealing money intended to pay for a veteran’s dog’s surgery, using a stolen check book to buy clothes in Brazil, running a credit card fraud scheme, and possibly making up an “assassination attempt.”
The congressman, who was elected last year to represent part of New York's Long Island and Queens district, has been under investigation in multiple jurisdictions and by the House Ethics Committee.
Mr Santos is accused of lying about his finances on congressional disclosure form (AP)Top Democrats, joined by some New York Republicans, have been calling on Santos to resign over allegations ranging from criminal behaviour on the campaign trail to petty personal dishonesty stretching back more than a decade.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said that he will look at the charges before determining if he thinks Santos should be removed from Congress.
“I’ll look at the charges,” the California Republican said.
If he were to be removed it would create a razor thin majority for the party and spark a new election which they could lose.
Since being elected last year, Mr Santos has been exposed for lying about his life story, work history, and education (Andrew Harnik/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Mr Santos induced supporters to donate to a company under the false pretence that the money would be used to support his campaign, according to the indictment.
He is also is accused of lying about his finances on congressional disclosure forms and applying for and receiving unemployment benefits while he was employed as regional director of an investment firm and running for Congress.
Instead, it says, he used it for personal expenses, including luxury designer clothes and to pay off his credit cards.
Mr Santos also is accused of lying about his finances on congressional disclosure forms and applying for and receiving unemployment benefits while he was employed as regional director of an investment firm and running for Congress.
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U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said the indictment "seeks to hold Mr Santos accountable for various alleged fraudulent schemes and brazen misrepresentations."
"Taken together, the allegations in the indictment charge Mr Santos with relying on repeated dishonesty and deception to ascend to the halls of Congress and enrich himself," Mr Peace said.
Mr Santos was taken into custody Wednesday and was expected to make an initial court appearance later in the day at a federal courthouse on Long Island.
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