Rep. George Santos pleads not guilty to 13 federal charges, decries "witch hunt"

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Last edited Wed May 10, 2023, 06:25 PM - Edit history (5)

Source: CBS News

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. -- The Long Island congressman who fabricated his qualifications then minimized the lies to the court of public opinion now has to defend himself in federal court, and he says he's ready to do it.

Rep. George Santos faced a judge Wednesday on a 13-count indictment alleging he defrauded supporters and Congress in multiple schemes.

Santos, whose admitted web of lies got him elected but had bucked calls to give up the seat he won as a result, now has to answer to federal criminal charges.

"This is the beginning of the ability for me to address and defend myself," Santos said. "We have an indictment, we have the information that the government wants to come after me on, and I'm going to comply. I've been compliant throughout this entire process."


Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/congressman-george-santos-now-in-custody-on-federal-charges/

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Kyle Cheney reporting 13-count indictment -

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Kyle Cheney
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JUST IN: Here's George Santos' 13-count indictment: https://justice.gov/d9/2023-05/santos.indictment.pdf
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9:20 AM · May 10, 2023

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Kyle Cheney
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May 10, 2023
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Five counts of wire fraud: https://justice.gov/d9/2023-05/santos.indictment.pdf
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Kyle Cheney
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Three counts of unlawful monetary transactions: https://justice.gov/d9/2023-05/santos.indictment.pdf
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9:27 AM · May 10, 2023

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Kyle Cheney
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May 10, 2023
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Counts 9-11: Theft of public money and unemployment fraud. https://justice.gov/d9/2023-05/santos.indictment.pdf
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Kyle Cheney
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Counts 12-13: False statement son his House disclosure reports. https://justice.gov/d9/2023-05/santos.indictment.pdf
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9:30 AM · May 10, 2023

Article updated.

Previous articles/headlines -

Rep. George Santos pleads not guilty to 13 federal charges including using campaign donations for personal expenses, including designer clothes and cash

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. -- Rep. George Santos pleaded not guilty to 13 federal charges at the federal courthouse in Central Islip Wednesday afternoon. He's being released on $500,000 bond. His next court appearance is set for June 30.

For anyone following Santos' web of lies, it was never a question of if he would face charges, but when. Earlier Wednesday morning, he was arrested and processed at the federal courthouse in Central Islip - including being fingerprinted and having a mug shot taken.

Wednesday afternoon, he will be arraigned for a variety of alleged financial crimes. Santos avoided the crush of media in front of federal court, surrendering himself through a back entrance as a 13-count indictment against him was unsealed.

The charges include 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. "He used political contributions to line his pockets, unlawfully applied for unemployment benefits that should have gone to New Yorkers who had lost their jobs due to the pandemic, and lied to the House of Representatives," the U.S. attorney's office for the Eastern District of New York said in a statement.

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. -- Rep. George Santos pleaded not guilty to 13 federal charges at the federal courthouse in Central Islip Wednesday afternoon. He's being released on $500,000 bond.

For anyone following Santos' web of lies, it was never a question of if he would face charges, but when. Earlier Wednesday morning, he was arrested and processed at the federal courthouse in Central Islip - including being fingerprinted and having a mug shot taken.

Wednesday afternoon, he will be arraigned for a variety of alleged financial crimes. Santos avoided the crush of media in front of federal court, surrendering himself through a back entrance as a 13-count indictment against him was unsealed. The charges include 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.

"He used political contributions to line his pockets, unlawfully applied for unemployment benefits that should have gone to New Yorkers who had lost their jobs due to the pandemic, and lied to the House of Representatives," the U.S. attorney's office for the Eastern District of New York said in a statement.

Congressman George Santos charged with using campaign donations for personal expenses, including designer clothes and cash

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. -- For many who have been following Rep. George Santos' web of lies, it was never a question of if he would face charges, but when. Earlier Wednesday morning, he was arrested and processed at the federal courthouse in Central Islip - including being fingerprinted and having a mug shot taken.

Wednesday afternoon, he will be arraigned for a variety of alleged financial crimes. Santos avoided the crush of media in front of federal court, surrendering himself through a back entrance as a 13-count indictment against him was unsealed.

The charges include 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.

"He used political contributions to line his pockets, unlawfully applied for unemployment benefits that should have gone to New Yorkers who had lost their jobs due to the pandemic, and lied to the House of Representatives," the U.S. attorney's office for the Eastern District of New York said in a statement.

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. -- Embattled Congressman George Santos is now in custody on federal charges after surrendering to authorities on Long Island.

He turned himself in around 9 a.m. Wednesday at federal court in Central Islip. According to the indictment, he faces 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.

"He used political contributions to line his pockets, unlawfully applied for unemployment benefits that should have gone to New Yorkers who had lost their jobs due to the pandemic, and lied to the House of Representatives," the U.S. attorney's office for the Eastern District of New York said in a statement.

Prosecutors allege Santos received $50,000 in campaign contributions from two separate individuals. Instead of using them for political purposes, he allegedly paid for personal expenses, including designer clothing, to withdraw cash and pay off some personal debt./excerpt]


Original article/headline -

Congressman George Santos now in custody on federal charges, including fraud and money laundering

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. -- Embattled Congressman George Santos is now in custody on federal charges after surrendering to authorities on Long Island.

He turned himself in around 9 a.m. Wednesday at federal court in Central Islip. According to the indictment, he faces fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds and false statements.

The FBI and Justice Department have been investigating his financial disclosures, specifically how he raised hundreds of thousands of dollars during his campaign for New York's 3rd congressional district.

Long Island voters and lawmakers have been calling for Santos to be expelled from the House for months. But even with pressure mounting from both sides of the aisle, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has said he would only call for Santos to resign if he was found guilty -- not before.