Leaving federal court in Central Islip, Long Island, where he was arraigned on criminal charges, Republican Congressman George Santos said he will defend his name as the case against him is a “witch hunt.”
“I am going to fight my battle. I will comply. I will fight against the witch hunt and I am going to take care of clearing my name,” were the words of the legislator in front of a crowd of reporters.
Santos was arrested this Wednesday morning and in the afternoon he appeared before Magistrate Arlene R. Lindsay.
The representative for Queens and a sector of Nassau County received 13 charges against him, seven for wire fraud, three for money laundering, one count of theft of public funds and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives. .
The Attorney for the Eastern District Court of New York, Breon Peace, explained that the prosecution seeks to hold Santos accountable for various alleged fraudulent schemes and misinterpretations.
Prosecutors accuse him of creating a company to solicit donations under the false pretense that the funds would be used for his campaign, and of using that money for personal expenses, including designer clothes.
He is also charged with fraudulently receiving unemployment benefits through New York State while still employed by an investment firm in Florida with an income of $120,000.
They also blame him for lying about his finances on congressional statement forms.
We spoke with some constituents from the third congressional district, which Santos represents, and this is what they told us:
“So many negative things, one after the other. How did you vote for this guy? And he represents my area,” said Pauline Sapountzaki, a resident of Douglaston, Queens.
“I think it’s a very good decision for Mr. Santos to resign, for the good of Douglaston and the entire Long Island community,” said neighbor Brenda.
And Santos said that he is not going to resign. He was released on $500,000 bail, handed over his passports and cannot leave the country. His trial will continue on June 30.
2023-05-11 15:35:00
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