Republican Congressman George Santos has surrendered to federal law enforcement and is currently in custody, facing a 13-count indictment that includes charges of federal money laundering, fraud, and false statements.
Santos turned himself in at the Federal Courthouse in Islip, New York, and is expected to plead not guilty at his hearing scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
today.
The indictment, returned by a federal grand jury, accuses Santos of various offenses, including fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, and making false statements.
Specifically, he is accused of using political contributions for personal gain, unlawfully applying for unemployment benefits meant for New Yorkers, and lying to the House of Representatives.
The charges against Santos include seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, and one count of theft of public funds.
According to the indictment, Santos allegedly defrauded campaign funders by using their contributions to finance his lavish lifestyle, exceeding campaign donation limits.
He is also accused of defrauding the COVID unemployment program in New York by receiving approximately $25,000 in benefits that he was not entitled to.
Furthermore, Santos is charged with making false statements on his financial disclosure reports, where he allegedly listed $750,000 in income that he did not receive.
Local representatives are expressing hope that Santos will resign from his position.
The case against Santos raises questions about the future of the Republican Party and its legal challenges, including those involving former President Donald Trump.
This developing situation highlights the potential ramifications of these cases on the party moving forward.
