Another “L” for the Republicans: This Wednesday, Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., was charged by federal prosecutors with several crimes, including fraud, theft, money laundering, and making false statements.
The 34-year-old was taken into custody this morning, according to the Department of Justice. The 13-count indictment alleges Santos not only spent campaign funds on luxury clothing and car payments but fraudulently received more than $24,000 in unemployment benefits and reported false income as well as asset data on House disclosure forms. Santos is looking at a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the top charges against him, the Justice Department noted.
RELATED: Fugees Rapper Pras Michel Found Guilty In Political Conspiracy
Speaking on his arrest, U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said in a press release, “This indictment seeks to hold Santos accountable for various alleged fraudulent schemes and brazen misrepresentations. Taken together, the allegations in this indictment charge Santos with relying on repeated dishonesty and deception to ascend to the halls of Congress and enrich himself,” Peace said.
If this seems like shocking news to you then check this: Santos has become the fourth member of Congress to be arrested while in office in recent years. Republican Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska, Republican Duncan Hunter of California, and Republican Chris Collins of New York were previously hit with unrelated charges. However, Hunter and Collins were convicted, and sentenced to prison, but later pardoned by Donald Trump.
More On Santos’ Alleged Crimes
Santos, who was elected to Congress last fall, built his campaign partly on falsehoods. He told people he was a wealthy Wall Street dealmaker among other things. In reality, he didn’t work at the big financial firms he claimed had employed him, didn’t go to college, and had actually struggled financially before his run for public office. The indictment also says Santos induced supporters to donate to a company under the disguise that the money would be used to support his campaign. But instead, it says, he used it for personal expenses, including luxury designer items and to pay off his credit cards and more.
These charges come just a month after the embattled congressman announced that he would run for re-election. Santos’ political opponents have demanded he resign from Congress.
Meanwhile, Mr. Santos is expected to be arraigned this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Arlene R. Lindsay at the federal courthouse.
RELATED: RAP Act, The Bill Banning Use Of Rap Lyrics As Court Evidence, Is Reintroduced To Congress
While a rep for Santos has not yet released a statement on his arrest, Rep. Ritchie Torres went ahead and released his own saying the criminal prosecution of Santos is “long overdue.”
“He is a pathological liar and lawbreaker who lied to the voters of New York State and defrauded his way into the United States Congress,” the statement read. “About 800,000 Americans have been continually deprived of the honest representation they deserve in the People’s House. Although the details of the federal prosecution are not yet fully known, one thing is crystal clear – either Rep. Santos must resign or House Republican leadership, under Speaker Kevin McCarthy, must summon the courage to join House Democrats in expelling him. Rep. Santos is a deep rot of corruption at the core of Congress.”