Embattled New York Representative George Santos faces new federal charges, including conspiracy, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and credit card fraud. These charges come shortly after his former campaign treasurer admitted to much of the alleged conduct.
Quick Facts
- Charges: Santos and his ex-campaign treasurer, Nancy Marks, are accused of submitting false financial reports to the Federal Election Commission, inflating the campaign’s fundraising numbers.
- Unauthorized Charges: Santos allegedly used personal credit card information from previous donors to make unauthorized charges for his political campaign.
- Previous Indictment: Earlier this year, Santos pleaded not guilty to charges from an original indictment, which accused him of using campaign donations for personal expenses.
Prosecutors from the Eastern District of New York claim that Santos and Marks tried to qualify for perks, benefits, and support from Republican Party leaders by inflating their campaign’s fundraising numbers. The new charges also allege that Santos made unauthorized charges on donors’ credit cards to support his campaign. In one instance, Santos allegedly charged $15,800 on a donor’s credit card, exceeding the federal campaign laws’ limits.
Previously, Santos faced charges for allegedly defrauding prospective supporters of his 2022 congressional campaign. He was accused of using campaign donations for personal expenses, including luxury items, credit card and car payments, and personal debts. Santos is scheduled to appear in federal court on October 27 to face the new charges.
Investigators claim that Santos, Marks, and others were aware of a $250,000 fundraising threshold required for Republican Party backing in 2021. Court documents reveal that Santos and Marks allegedly reported false donations and lied about a loan Santos provided to his campaign to improve the campaign’s financial appearance.
Last week, Marks pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit offenses against the U.S., which encompasses much of the new alleged conduct charged against Santos. While the details of Marks’ plea agreement remain unclear, her attorney stated that she would testify in Santos’ prosecution if subpoenaed.
George Santos, a freshman congressman representing New York’s 3rd Congressional District, has faced allegations of inflating his resume and lying about his past experiences during his 2022 political campaign. He has admitted to “embellishing” his resume and has been scrutinized for his education, professional experience, finances, and campaign spending.
Original article source: CBS News
