New York Congressman George Santos, a Republican, was taken into custody at a Long Island courthouse on Wednesday morning after the Department of Justice unsealed a 13-count federal indictment against him.
The charges against him include seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds, and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives, according to NBC News.
The GOP politician, who lied about his education and background during his campaign, will be arraigned at 1 p.m. ET, Wednesday, where the charges will be read.
After being taken into custody in Melville, Long Island, where the FBI is located, George Santos was transported to the courthouse in Central Islip.
The congressman's attorney and spokespeople for the Brooklyn US Attorney's Office, the Justice Department, and the FBI have declined to comment on the George Santos arrest, CNN reported.
According to a reliable source, George Santos was returning to New York on Tuesday evening and missed House votes for the evening.
George Santos, a freshman congressman, was elected last year to represent a district comprising parts of Long Island and Queens. He has been under investigation by multiple jurisdictions and the House Ethics Committee.
Top Democrats, along with some New York Republicans, have been urging George Santos to resign, citing allegations ranging from criminal conduct during his campaign to petty personal dishonesty dating back more than a decade, according to The Hill.
George Santos Will Keep His US House Post
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has said he will examine the allegations against Santos before deciding whether to expel him from the House of Representatives.
George Santos is still permitted to hold office and serve his constituency despite the federal charge.
According to House Rules, a member is required to resign from committees and stand aside from party leadership if they are charged with a crime that carries a minimum penalty of two years imprisonment.
Geoge Santos left his committee duties in January due to the continuing scandal and is not a member of the House GOP leadership.
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