In a stunning development, federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), the notorious liar and fraud who has been exposed for fabricating his resume, biography and finances. The charges are still under seal and were filed in the Eastern District of New York, according to multiple reports . Santos is expected to appear in court as early as Wednesday, CNN reported.
Santos has been mired in a morass of controversies ignited by revelations, many of which came out after his election to Congress, that he fabricated parts of his biography. He lied about his mother surviving the 9/11 terrorist attacks, his ethnicity, his career as a Broadway producer, and his involvement in a charity for a veteran’s dying dog. He also faced allegations of sexual harassment and campaign finance violations. He is currently under investigation by the House Ethics Committee.
The Justice Department has filed criminal charges against Rep. George Santos (R-NY), @CNN reports.
The charges are under seal, but federal prosecutors have been investigating whether Santos made false statements in campaign finance filings. pic.twitter.com/7G4cyL0OYL
— The Recount (@therecount) May 9, 2023
According to the Daily Wire, a journalist shared that Santos appeared to be unaware of the charges upon being informed about the news.
“Um, I think I just (accidentally) informed Rep. George Santos of reports that he has been charged by the Justice Department… ‘That’s news to me,’ he said a few minutes ago. ‘You’re the first to call me about this,’” Associated Press reporter Farnoush Amiri tweeted early Tuesday evening.
Um, I think I just (accidentally) informed Rep. George Santos of reports that he has been charged by the Justice Department…
"That's news to me," he said a few minutes ago. "You're the first to call me about this."
— Farnoush Amiri (@FarnoushAmiri) May 9, 2023
Despite the overwhelming evidence of his dishonesty and corruption, Santos has refused to resign and has announced his bid for re-election. He has also tried to deflect attention from his scandals by spreading conspiracy theories and misinformation about Covid-19, immigration and election fraud. He is a disgrace to his office and an embarrassment to his party. “I am not a criminal,” Santos said at the time. “This will not deter me from having good legislative success. I will be effective. I will be good.”
Santos’s constituents deserve better than a serial fabulist who has betrayed their trust and violated the law. He should step down immediately and face the consequences of his actions. The American people deserve honest and accountable representatives who uphold the values of our democracy, not self-serving con artists who undermine it.