US Congressman George Santos, whose lies have topped political and media headlines since his election in 2022, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with 13 counts of financial fraud, of which he asserted his innocence.
A spokeswoman for the New York Federal Prosecution Office said that the Republican-elected official from the same state who was indicted by a grand jury, appeared in the federal court of Central Islip in eastern New York City.
He was released on $500,000 bail and called for a new hearing on June 30, the spokeswoman said.
“I will work to clear my name,” Representative Santos, 34, told reporters upon leaving the court, stressing that the file contained “errors.”
The prosecution said in a statement that Jorge Santos was charged with fraud, money laundering, misappropriation of public funds and making false statements before the House of Representatives. The maximum penalty for these charges is 20 years in prison.
Santos is also accused of defrauding campaign donors by transferring $50,000 in contributions to his personal bank account, money he would use to pay off debts and buy luxury clothes.
He is also accused of making false statements to the House of Representatives about his assets and income, and of receiving $24,000 in unemployment benefits that he was not entitled to prior to his election as Representative.
New York Attorney General Brion Pace said he “embezzled political donations to line his pockets, illegally applied for unemployment benefits that should have gone to New Yorkers who lost their jobs because of the pandemic, and lied to the House of Representatives.”
After his election in November, Santos admitted, and information about him was disclosed to the New York Times, that he lied about entire parts of his life to improve the image of his resume, but heeded calls for his resignation.
Born to Brazilian parents, Santos presents himself as a symbol of the “American Dream”.
He has been accused of lying or exaggerating reality by presenting himself as a “proud American Jew” or the grandson of a World War II Holocaust survivor.
He is the subject of a number of investigations from Congress to Brazil.
In response to a question about a possible impeachment against George Santos, Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Tuesday that he would look into the “charges” before considering any decision to expel him from Congress.
