UPDATED: Rep. George Santos (R-NY) called the 13-count indictment against him a “witch hunt” and told reporters that “this is the beginning of the ability for me to address and defend myself.”
“The reality is, it’s a witch hunt, because it makes sense that in four months, four months, five months, I’m indicted.”
Then he tried to turn the tables. “You have Joe Biden’s entire family receiving deposits, nine family members receiving money from foreign destinations into their bank accounts.” That drew boos from some in the crowd outside the federal courthouse.
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“I’m gonna fight might battle, I’m going to deliver…I’m going to take care of clearing my name and I look forward to doing that,” he said.
Santos also said he would not resign and that he plans to run for re-election.
Asked about charges that he received $20,000 in unemployment benefits when he had a job, Santos said, “My employment was changed during the time. I don’t understand where the government is coming from.”
PREVIOUSLY: Rep. George Santos (R-NY) was arrested today on a series of federal charges including wire fraud, money laundering and theft of public funds.
Santos surrendered to authorities this morning after a grand jury on Tuesday returned the 13-count indictment (Read it here). The charges also include two counts of lying on House of Representatives disclosure forms.
At his arraignment this afternoon in East Islip, NY, Santos pleaded not guilty. He was released on $500,000 bond, according to the AP.
Since he was elected to his seat in November, Santos has been the butt of comedian’s jokes and late night humor as revelations showed he had repeatedly lied about his background. He himself admitted to being a bit of a fabulist, but he refused to resign his seat in the House. Faced with a slim majority, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has also declined to call for him to step down, even though politicians of both parties have asked him to do so. “He will go through his time in trial and we will find out what the outcome is,” McCarthy told reporters.
The indictment outlines an alleged scheme by Santos to use campaign contributions to pay down his personal credit card debt and buy designer clothing.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said that the indictment “seeks to hold Santos accountable for various alleged fraudulent schemes and brazen misrepresentations. Taken together, the allegations in the indictment charge Santos with replying on repeated dishonesty and deception to ascend to the halls of Congress and enrich himself.”
The indictment also claims that Santos unlawfully applied for pandemic unemployment benefits.
District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly said, “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. As charged in the indictment, the defendant’s alleged behavior continued during his second run for Congress when he pocketed campaign contributions and used that money to pay down personal debts and buy designer clothing.”