Rep. George Santos Pleads Not Guilty to New Charges, Chooses to Go to Trial
Rep. George Santos, a Republican of New York, pleaded not guilty on Friday to the latest round of federal charges filed against him. The superseding indictment accuses Santos of stealing the identities of his campaign donors and making unauthorized charges on their credit cards. Santos appeared at U.S. District Court in Central Islip, New York, and chose not to speak to reporters. His trial has been scheduled for September 9, just 57 days before the November general election.
Santos has several challengers vying to unseat him, including former Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi, who previously vacated the seat to run for governor. Santos entered a not-guilty plea to the superseding indictment and waived conflicts raised by the government concerning his lawyer’s past dealings with individuals involved in the case. His next status conference is set for December 12.
Federal prosecutors are expected to seek modifications to Santos’ pretrial release conditions. They have provided a list of additional individuals Santos is banned from contacting, but due to family connections, his defense counsel has requested permission for some communication. Prosecutors stated that while contact may be allowed, Santos must not discuss the case or pending charges with these individuals.
The superseding indictment, which was unsealed earlier this month, revealed the new allegations against Santos. It accuses him of repeatedly using campaign donors’ credit cards without authorization, charging thousands of dollars for personal and campaign purposes. Santos and his former campaign treasurer are also accused of falsifying campaign finance reports in order to meet fundraising targets, including fabricating a $500,000 loan.
Santos has maintained his innocence throughout the process and has refused to resign from Congress. Despite calls for his removal, Santos has highlighted his right to a fair trial and due process. A resolution to expel Santos from Congress has been introduced by his Republican colleagues, following a failed attempt by Democrats earlier this year. The House will consider the resolution in the coming days.
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