- New York Rep. George Santos faces criminal charges over his alleged false statements related to campaign finances
- The charges were filed by the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Prosecutors have been examining allegations of false statements in the lawmaker's campaign finance filings and other claims
The Department of Justice (DOJ), in coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), has filed criminal charges against New York Rep. George Santos over his string of political lies related to his background and some of his campaign funds.
The Republican senator is expected to appear at federal court in New York's eastern district as soon as Monday, where authorities filed the charges under seal. Furthermore, the exact nature of the charges has yet to be made public.
George Santos Faces Criminal Charges
However, New York and Washington prosecutors have been examining allegations of false statements during Santos' campaign finance filings and other claims. The congressman's attorney, the Brooklyn U.S. Attorney's Office spokespeople, the DOJ, and the FBI have all declined to comment on the matter, as per CNN.
The Republican was returning to New York on Tuesday night after he skipped House votes for the evening. Naysa Woomer, a spokeswoman for the senator, did not respond to questions that reporters shouted at her on Tuesday afternoon. She was seen suddenly leaving the congressman's D.C. office after she was asked about the federal charges against him.
Before Woomer was seen, three staffers for Santos were observed departing with their bags, keeping quiet when asked for comments. Santos, elected last year, has been facing probes in several jurisdictions and one conducted by the House Ethics Committee.
Several top Democrats, whom some New York Republicans joined, have called on the New York senator to step down from his position following the allegations. The accusations range from criminal behavior on the campaign trail to personal lies stretching back a decade.
Read Also : Tucker Carlson Plans To Relaunch Show on Twitter
Potentially Breaking Campaign Finance Laws
The lies include information on his biography, education, and work history, which raised questions regarding his personal wealth and campaign finances. Reports following the initial revelation highlighted evidence of potential misconduct, according to the New York Times.
These include an unregistered fund that was found to be raising huge amounts for the senator's campaign but seemingly in violation of campaign finance laws. Authorities also discovered hundreds of thousands of dollars in unexplained spending and a string of payments for $199.99, just below the threshold needed to show receipts.
Following the reports, Santos admitted that he lied about having Jewish ancestry, a background from Wall Street, college degrees, and a history of being a star volleyball player. However, the New York senator has resisted caving in when called on by his colleagues to resign.
Furthermore, he has recently announced that he was running for re-election. He argued that his lies regarding his life story were harmless resume embellishments, said the Associated Press.
