By Jake Offenhartz | Associated Press
NEW YORK — U.S. Rep. George Santos is facing new charges after allegedly stealing the identities of campaign donors and using their credit cards to make unauthorized charges. Prosecutors claim Santos then transferred some of the money to his personal bank account while using the rest to inflate his campaign funds.
The indictment, consisting of 23 counts, supersedes the initial charges filed in May against the New York Republican. The new filing accuses Santos of charging over $44,000 to his campaign using contributors’ credit cards without their knowledge. Prosecutors highlight one instance where he charged $12,000 to a contributor’s card and transferred most of the funds to his personal account.
Additionally, Santos is accused of falsely reporting a $500,000 loan to his campaign, even though he never made any such contribution and had less than $8,000 in his bank account. The purpose of the fake loan was to convince Republican Party officials to support his campaign financially.
“Santos is charged with stealing people’s identities and making unauthorized charges on his own donors’ credit cards, lying to the FEC, and deceiving the public about the financial status of his campaign,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace.
Santos refused to comment on the new charges, stating that he was in a conference and didn’t have his phone with him. He has consistently maintained his innocence and called the charges a “witch hunt.”
If convicted, Santos could face a lengthy prison term. However, he has chosen not to resign and plans to run for re-election next year.
Santos’ reputation began unraveling after he won the election to represent parts of Long Island and Queens. It was revealed that he had lied to voters about his background, achievements, and philanthropic work. Alongside these fabrications, Santos is accused of various schemes to enrich himself and mislead donors.
In May, he was arrested on a 13-count federal indictment, which included charges of using campaign funds for personal expenses and unlawfully obtaining pandemic-related unemployment benefits.
While out on bail, Santos dismissed his lies as harmless exaggerations and blamed his former campaign treasurer, Nancy Marks, for his financial irregularities.
Last week, Marks pleaded guilty to a fraud conspiracy charge and admitted helping Santos deceive donors and Republican party officials with false campaign finance reports.
The latest indictment implicates Marks and Santos in a scheme to fake a $500,000 campaign loan in order to secure additional support from a Republican Party committee. Santos is also charged with fabricating donations from at least 10 people, either his or Marks’ relatives, to make it seem like the campaign reached its fundraising goals.
The credit card fraud allegedly began in December 2021, after Santos failed to qualify for a Republican Party program that provides support for congressional campaigns.
Financial questions have persisted around Santos, who presented himself as wealthy despite a history of low-paying jobs and unemployment, as well as facing eviction and criminal charges related to bad checks.
Another person involved in Santos’ campaign, Sam Miele, has also been indicted for impersonating a high-ranking congressional aide while soliciting contributions. Miele is accused of setting up fake email addresses resembling the name of a former chief of staff to GOP Rep. Kevin McCarthy.
Miele’s attorney, Kevin Marino, believes his client will be acquitted at trial.
Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri in Washington contributed to this report.
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