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Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn have issued an updated indictment against Rep. George Santos, adding ten new federal charges to the initial 13 counts he faced.
The Long Island Republican now faces a total of 23 charges, reflecting the ongoing investigation into his alleged fraudulent activities.
According to prosecutors, Santos is accused of identity theft, unauthorized use of donors’ credit cards, and submitting false campaign reports that included fictitious loans and fabricated or stolen contributions. In May, Santos pleaded not guilty to the original 13 charges brought against him.
The new charges in the superseding indictment include:
1. One count of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States.
2. Two counts of wire fraud.
3. Two counts of making materially false statements to the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
4. Two counts of falsifying records submitted to obstruct the FEC.
5. Two counts of aggravated identity theft.
6. One count of access device fraud.
The indictment describes a scheme in which Santos and his former campaign treasurer, Nancy Marks, conspired to falsely report that his congressional campaign had raised a minimum of $250,000 from third-party contributors within a single quarter. This false reporting was aimed at qualifying for a program run by the Republican National Committee, providing financial and logistical support to his campaign.
To execute this scheme, Santos and Marks allegedly falsely reported to the FEC that at least ten family members had contributed to his campaign and falsely claimed that Santos had loaned the campaign a substantial amount, including a purported $500,000 loan. However, prosecutors revealed that Santos had less than $8,000 in his personal and business bank accounts at the time of the fabricated loan.
Additionally, Santos is accused of stealing his donors’ personal and financial information and using it to repeatedly charge their credit cards without authorization. The funds obtained through these unauthorized charges were allegedly transferred to his campaign, other campaigns, and his personal bank account. One donor’s credit card was reportedly charged with at least $44,800 in unauthorized charges.
Santos, who is running for reelection, has maintained his innocence and declared that he will not resign from the House. His lawyer declined to comment on the updated indictment. “I’m going to fight the witch hunt,” Santos asserted, expressing his determination to clear his name.
As the investigation into Santos unfolds, prosecutors have been increasing pressure on his associates, resulting in further indictments and guilty pleas. Last month, it was disclosed that Santos had been engaged in plea negotiations with the government, indicating that there might be significant developments in the case ahead.
The legal proceedings are expected to continue, with Rep. Santos and his legal team preparing to contest the charges in court.
