Santos pleads not guilty to indictment

CD3 rep. faces 13 charges including wire fraud, theft of public funds

BY ROBERT PELAEZ

U.S. Rep. George Santos pleaded not guilty on Wednesday afternoon to a 13-count indictment, which includes allegations of wire fraud, theft of public funds and making false statements to Congress.

The charges against Santos, whose fraudulent resume was exposed by the New York Times and other media outlets earlier this year, 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 Congress, officials announced Wednesday.

He was arrested Wednesday morning and pleaded not guilty to U.S. Magistrate Judge Arlene R. Lindsay at the federal courthouse in Central Islip.

Santos described the indictment and probe into his personal, professional and financial background as a “witch hunt,” according to the Associated Press.

“This is the beginning of the ability for me to address and defend myself,” Santos told reporters, according to the Associated Press.

Santos’ attorney, Joseph Murray, told reporters that he and his client cannot take the charges put forward by federal prosecutors lightly.

“Any time the federal government comes after you it’s a serious case,” Murray said, according to the Associated Press. “We have to take this seriously.”

Efforts to reach officials for further comment were unavailing.

Santos told reporters that he would not be resigning from Congress, according to Newsday.

The FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice have been investigating the congressman’s campaign filings. Santos told the Associated Press on Tuesday that he was unaware of the charges against him.

Santos, in 2022, allegedly defrauded prospective political supporters and used a Queens-based political consultant to tell donors that their money would be used for his congressional campaign, officials said. A pair of unidentified donors transferred $25,000 each into an LLC controlled by Santos before those funds were transferred to Santos’ personal bank accounts, officials said.

Santos allegedly used the funds for personal purchases, withdrew cash, transfer money to his associates and settle personal debts, officials said.

In June 2020, officials said, Santos was employed as a regional director for a Florida-based investment firm, but applied for government assistance

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