American of Brazilian descent George Santos, who rose to international fame for the web of lies he built on his resume as a Republican candidate for Congress, was charged with 13 crimes, including fraud, money laundering, embezzlement and false statements to the Chamber of Deputies Representatives.
Santos, 34, acknowledged that he had “decorated” his resume and even been a “terrible liar”, although he said it was “not about cheating people, it was about getting recognition from the party.” [republicano]Federal prosecutors disagree, alleging that Santos orchestrated and executed a plan to defraud donors ahead of his election campaign that culminated in his election last November. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
The politician was taken to court, pleaded not guilty and was released on US$500,000 bail, although he cannot travel outside of New York and the capital Washington.
“This indictment seeks to hold Santos accountable for several alleged fraudulent schemes and outright misrepresentations,” Attorney General Breon Peace said. “Taken together, the prosecutor’s allegations accuse Santos of resorting to repeated dishonesty and deceit to ascend the halls of Congress and enrich himself.” According to the criminal charges, Santos claimed that the money would be used for his candidacy for the position of Representative, but instead he spent the money on luxury clothes, to pay for a car and also to pay personal debts that had been contracted on credit cards. credit.
Santos is also accused of fraudulently filing for unemployment benefits in 2020 while actually employed and running for Congress during his first run for public office. “At the height of the pandemic in 2020, George Santos would have applied for and received unemployment benefits while employed and running for Congress,” said New York City Attorney Anne Donnelly in Nassau County. Santos will have received $ 24,000 while working for an investment company that was forced to close a year later due to activities in a financial pyramid scheme.
During the midterm election campaign, Santos received a sum of $700,000, the origin of which has yet to be determined. While his New York party colleagues are calling for him to resign (and have announced federal legislative proposals to prevent members of Congress convicted of fraud from profiting financially by selling books or getting rights to adapt their stories), Santos stated that he intends to run for re-election in 2024.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he would not ask his fellow party member to resign, though he said a representative, once impeached, should not sit on committees.
Outside of this trial, there is a more recent case: a man who volunteered in his office in Congress accused him of sexual harassment in February. The ethics committee of the House of Representatives has confirmed that it has opened an investigation.
Source: DN
