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Republican Rep. George Santos surrendered to federal authorities at a courthouse in suburban Long Island on Wednesday facing thirteen counts of criminal wrongdoing.
Federal prosecutors say he allegedly „devised and executed a scheme“ aimed at defrauding donors to his 2022 political campaign.
„This indictment seeks to hold Santos accountable for various alleged fraudulent schemes and brazen misrepresentations,“ said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace.
„Taken together, the allegations in the indictment charge Santos with relying on repeated dishonesty and deception to ascend to the halls of Congress and enrich himself.“
According to the criminal indictments, Santos claimed the money would fuel his bid for office, but instead spent the cash on luxury designer clothes and to make a car payment and pay personal credit card bills.
Santos also faces a charge that in 2020, he fraudulently applied to receive unemployment benefits when he was employed and running for Congress in his first bid for public office.
„At the height of the pandemic in 2020, George Santos allegedly applied for and received unemployment benefits while he was employed and running for Congress,“ stated Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly, ina statement.
