Rep. George Santos (R-Nassau/Queens), who has been under the microscope for fabricating stories about his personal and professional history, will face federal criminal charges and could appear in court as early as Wednesday, according to a source familiar with the matter. with the subject
The FBI and the US Justice Department have been investigating allegations of statements in Santos’ campaign documents, among other matters, although details of the charges were not immediately available last night.
CNN first reported that federal investigators have filed charges and that Santos could appear in federal court on Wednesday.
Santos and his attorney, Joe Murray, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
After defeating Democrat Robert Zimmerman in the November general election in the Third Congressional District, Santos admitted to embellishing his resume but has maintained his innocence of other charges.
Since then, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, the House Ethics Committee and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York opened investigations into him.
Federal prosecutors have been investigating Santos’ public filings amid questions about the source of his wealth, ABC News first reported. He listed a massive salary increase in 2022 and said he owned assets worth between $2.6 million and $11.2 million.
Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly announced in late December that her office is investigating Santos, prompted by numerous claims he made that have since been proven false.
Officials in the office of state Attorney General Letitia James have also said they were “looking into a number of issues” surrounding Santos, and the Federal Election Commission has questioned several of his campaign contributions.
The Campaign Legal Center, a watchdog group, filed a formal complaint with the FEC, alleging that Santos hid the true sources of money he lent to his campaign, misrepresented campaign expenses and used il ·legally campaign money for personal expenses.
The House Ethics Committee said in March it had opened an investigation into Santos to determine whether he violated laws governing campaign finance, financial disclosure, conflict of interest and sexual misconduct.
Authorities are particularly interested in how Santos’ income appeared to fluctuate significantly and a loan he made to his campaign of more than $700,000, according to a Washington Post story that cited people familiar with the matter as speaking on condition of anonymity. anonymity
Former Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), who served three terms representing the Third Congressional District before resigning in his unsuccessful bid for governor last year, said in a statement: “I am confident that the legal process will bring justice to those Santos. has harmed and will follow events closely as they unfold.”
Suozzi has also been mentioned as a possible candidate to take Santos’ place if he is impeached and removed from Congress.
Zimmerman, of Great Neck, who has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the Third District seat, which straddles Nassau and Queens counties, said in a statement last night: “If Republicans in the Chamber are not considering their immediate expulsion, they will be complicit in their crimes.”
With Laura Figueroa and Tom Brune
