Exclusive: Rep. George Santos charged by Justice Department in federal probe

[BumRushDaShow]

Last edited Tue May 9, 2023, 07:56 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: CNN Politics

CNN — Federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against New York Rep. George Santos, the Republican lawmaker whose astonishing pattern of lies and fabrications stunned even hardened politicos, according to three sources familiar with the matter. Santos is expected to appear as soon as Wednesday at federal court in New York’s eastern district, where the charges have been filed under seal.

The exact nature of the charges couldn’t immediately be learned but the FBI and the Justice Department public integrity prosecutors in New York and Washington have been examining allegations of false statements in Santos’ campaign finance filings and other claims.

The congressman’s attorney declined to comment. Spokespeople for the Brooklyn US Attorney’s Office, the Justice Department and the FBI declined to comment.

A spokeswoman for Santos, Naysa Woomer, would not respond to shouted questions from reporters Tuesday afternoon and abruptly departed the congressman’s DC office with her backpack when asked about the federal charges against him. Prior to her departure from the office, CNN witnessed three staffers for Santos abruptly depart with their bags. They wouldn’t talk when pressed for comment.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/09/politics/george-santos-charged-justice-department/index.html

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Article updated.

Original article -

CNN — Federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against New York Rep. George Santos, the Republican lawmaker whose astonishing pattern of lies and fabrications stunned even hardened politicos, according to three sources familiar with the matter. Santos is expected to appear as soon as Wednesday at federal court in New York’s eastern district, where the charges have been filed under seal.

The exact nature of the charges couldn’t immediately be learned but the FBI and the Justice Department public integrity prosecutors in New York and Washington have been examining allegations of false statements in Santos’ campaign finance filings and other claims.

The congressman’s attorney declined to comment. Spokespeople for the Brooklyn US Attorney’s Office, the Justice Department and the FBI declined to comment.

The freshman congressman, who was elected last year to represent a district that includes parts of Long Island and Queens, has been under investigation in multiple jurisdictions and by the House Ethics Committee. Top Democrats, joined by some New York Republicans, have been calling on Santos to resign over allegations ranging from criminal behavior on the campaign trail to petty personal dishonesty stretching back more than a decade.

[Effete Snob]

1. The big question is "for which of the carnival of malfeasance is he being charged?"

[oasis]

2. Great. Full speed ahead!!!

[onetexan]

23. Sail's up.. tail winds blowing..full throttle on the dastardly liar

The Con found liable of rape, the Liar being charged. Good Tuesday so far

[TheBlackAdder]

10. This is worth a watch.

.

.

[Cha]

14. MF Creep.

TY

[OMGWTF]

47. Thank you. Incredible. He learned from the best: DJT

[3Hotdogs]

19. It's the D.O.J. I think it was about a year ago, he dropped a gum wrapper on a subway platform.

This is the same D.o.J. that can't yet find it's way to indict Trump.

[Beastly Boy]

34. I went half way through the thread, and didn't find a single gratuitous attack on DOJ. I thought

hell froze over. Thanks for relieving my concerns.

[tiredtoo]

52. Ditto

[Effete Snob]

38. lol

Okay, now that's funny right there.

I think it's something more serious.

He might have pulled the tag off of a mattress.

[soldierant]

64. God knows I hate his being at large

But do you just want him charged, or do you want him convicted?

This week I find myself glad they have waited until there were seditious conspiracy convictions for Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. And even hoping they can nail Giuliani, Bannon, Jones, Meadows et al before they bring him to court. Those convictions don't change what he has done or what he is doing, but every one is a brick in a huge edifice. And the more bricks, the stronger it will be.

Sure, they might have been able to get a conviction for sediyious conspiracy or wose without those bricks. Or not. There are reasons that RICO and RICO-esque cases are worked from the bottom up.

[ShazzieB]

37. This could get really interesting!

There's such a long list of shady stuff connected with him, there may be a long list of charges.

I hope it's very long, and I can't wait to find out!

[AZ8theist]

50. The REALLY big question is what name will he give to the court??

[Effete Snob]

51. Now there's a question.

[Ray Bruns]

65. Really. Did they even charge the right guy. Maybe he'll show with someone else's drivers license.

[dem4decades]

3. The saddest part, his district elected him. They're hopeless.

They'll elect another asshole, what's wrong with Long Island, and Staten Island for that matter.

Don't bother responding, I know.

[LiberalFighter]

15. Not necessarily.

[AdamGG]

33. It'll be tough for them to find another Holocaust surviving ex Volleyball captain

and I think the district has had a Democratic representative before.

[dem4decades]

53. Well that only pisses me off about the "Democratic" redistricting. I'm not completely

versed in the whole thing but there's been plenty of talk about NY giving Republicans more than a fair chance. Republicans never give Democrats a chance in the red states.

[TeamProg]

4. 'Bout time. nt

[spudspud]

5. LOL. Today's just filled with good news!

Trump's now a sexual abuser per a jury of his peers. Lost $5 million to E. Jean Carroll.
Putin's May Day parade had ONE old ass T-34 tank instead of the usual dozens of modern tanks (paper tiger/corruption/Ukraine says hi).
And now Santos gets slapped upside the head with Federal charges (I bet he figured he was in the clear by this point from just steam rolling along).

[BigmanPigman]

16. I know!!!

Isn't it fantastic!!! I didn't even know about the May Day parade fiasco which makes my day even better!!!

[marble falls]

6. He'll be in jail and different courts for years. Hollywood has already optioned a Santos film ...

... Allegedly. Allegedly.

[Ocelot II]

7. This is a very good day.

[Novara]

42. This really IS a very good day!

[drray23]

8. let's see if he resigns.

In the past, being accused, let alone criminallly charged would result in resignation for a politician. Nowadays, I am not sure especially for the GOP. Kevin Mccarthy will probably say it's fine as long as he is not convicted yet. The bar is pretty low for the magats.

[Cha]

13. I doubt it.. Santos is a Sociopathic Pathological

LIAR.

[Effete Snob]

18. Why on earth would he do that?

These days, a man in his position tries to drag anyone else he can down with him.

[EmmaLee E]

20. Why resign if he'd be paid

a pension for life if he sticks it out for one term?

[drray23]

21. you need 6 years for a pension for life. three terms.nt.

[LoisB]

49. Thank you.

[ZonkerHarris]

25. I hope he does not resign, and we can hang him around the neck of every Republican running

[bucolic_frolic]

9. Drip, drip.

[Cha]

11. Whoa! I HOPE the FBI, DOJ, & NY Prosecutors

GET him!!

TY BRDS! Can'at wait to see the Charges.

[electric_blue68]

12. Wow.... Drumpf Guilty, now Santos Charged?! An Extra GOOD day!

[gab13by13]

17. I expect Kevin McCarthy to do the right thing

and ask for Santos to resign.

[GoodRaisin]

63. Why?

…is what I was going to say until I saw your sarcasm emoji.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

22. This makes me smile

Link to tweet

[TlalocW]

24. In some ways even more than Trump

I want to see that grin wiped off his smug, stupid face. I hope whatever they're charging him with is big, and it sticks.

[flying_wahini]

26. Link

https://www.thedailybeast.com/feds-file-criminal-charges-against-george-santos-report

[Wednesdays]

27. Question for the lawyers:

I am assuming that Santos appearance in court tomorrow will be for some sort of arraignment. Can I also assume that even though they're not public now, that Santos is aware of what he's been charged with?

Not taking Santos' side here, but I would hate to be dragged into court, clueless as to what charges are made against me until the last moment, and then having to stand there and plead guilty or not guilty without at least a little time to think of the plea.

[BumRushDaShow]

29. Not a lawyer but

I think 45 went through the same when the charges were filed by Alvin Bragg but no one knew the number and types until they were unsealed during the arraignment.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143053042

One of the early versions of that story -

Grand Jury Votes to Indict Donald Trump in New York: Live Updates

A Manhattan grand jury voted to indict Donald J. Trump on Thursday for his role in paying hush money to a porn star, according to four people with knowledge of the matter, a historic development that will shake up the 2024 presidential race and forever mark him as the nation's first former president to face criminal charges.

The felony indictment, filed under seal by the Manhattan district attorney's office, will likely be announced in the coming days. By then, prosecutors working for the district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, will have asked Mr. Trump to surrender and to face arraignment on charges that remain unknown for now.

Mr. Trump has for decades avoided criminal charges despite persistent scrutiny and repeated investigations, creating an aura of legal invincibility that the vote to indict now threatens to puncture. His actions surrounding his 2020 electoral defeat are now the focus of a separate federal investigation, and a Georgia prosecutor is in the final stages of an investigation into Mr. Trump's attempts to reverse the election results in that state.

But unlike the investigations that arose from his time in the White House, this case is built around a tawdry episode that predates Mr. Trump's presidency. The reality star turned presidential candidate who shocked the political establishment by winning the White House now faces a reckoning for a hush money payment that buried a sex scandal in the final days of the 2016 campaign.

(emphasis mine)

During the appearance the following week, the charges were spelled out - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143055500

Trump charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records

Former President Donald Trump was formally charged in New York City Tuesday with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to 2016 hush money payments, according to the Manhattan district attorney's office.

Michael Cohen, Trump's former personal attorney, paid $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in the closing days of the 2016 presidential campaign to keep her quiet about an affair she claimed to have had with Trump, which Trump has long denied.

Prosecutors with the Manhattan district attorney's office say that Trump illegally falsified business records when his reimbursement of the funds to Cohen was logged in the Trump Organization's books as a "monthly retainer" for Cohen's legal services. The former president, who has denied all wrongdoing, entered a plea of not guilty to all charges.

In a statement, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said that Trump was accused of "falsifying New York business records in order to conceal damaging information and unlawful activity from American voters before and after the 2016 election."

I expect they obviously are given time to review during the appearance and the lawyers will advise how to respond.

[Rhiannon12866]

28. More good news! And also long past due!

Thanks so much for the details that are known! His constituents must be ecstatic!

[BumRushDaShow]

30. It is!

And I *hope* that there is a suitable (D) candidate ready to roll to replace him!!!

[Rhiannon12866]

32. IIRC, his Democratic opponent called for an investigation

And a group of his constituents actually went to D.C., calling for another election.

[BumRushDaShow]

40. Good

I expect that McCarthy will NOT let him resign unless he is convicted because he can't lose any votes.

I know that when Fortenberry was indicted, he stayed until he was finally convicted at trial, and he resigned a couple days later.

[Rhiannon12866]

41. And that is likely the only reason he's still in office given his dishonest behavior and lies

But it's long past time that his unprecedented behavior caught up with him, not to mention, isn't he still wanted in Brazil??

[BumRushDaShow]

46. Yup.

In fact, they are discussing this on Joy's show right now!

(Contributor Paul Butler earlier had said this was an "easy case" because there was apparently a "smoking gun" of $700,000 contribution that was a loan from Santos to his own campaign that there is no accounting of)

[Rhiannon12866]

48. That was brought up earlier - and where did it come from??

This individual's lies are so overwhelming that he's not to be trusted on any single thing!

[BumRushDaShow]

54. I expect they had to really sift through a lot

to find what they planned to charge him with out of a pile of possible stuff.

I guess we'll know how many charges (and for what) tomorrow!

[liberalmediaaddict]

31. This is a gteat day for the rule of law

If Santos resigns Democrats are very likely to win back his seat.

That would lower the Republican House majority to 3 seats.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

35. This has been a good day

Link to tweet

?s=20

[riversedge]

36. Can remain in Congress The charges do not, from a legal standpoint, affect Santos' status as a mem

Well, looks like he can draw a paycheck. Correct me if I am wrong, but he is running for re-election isn't he??





https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/09/politics/george-santos-charged-justice-department/index.html


..............Can remain in Congress

The charges do not, from a legal standpoint, affect Santos’ status as a member of Congress. Nothing in the Constitution’s requirements for congressional office bars individuals under criminal indictment or conviction from serving, except for the 14th Amendment prohibitions for certain treasonous conduct committed after a member has taken the oath of office.

Under the formal rules for the US House of Representatives, according to a Congressional Research Service report, “an indicted Member may continue to participate in congressional proceedings and considerations.”

However, if a member is convicted of a crime that could result in a punishment of two or more years in prison, they are instructed under House rules not to participate in votes on the floor or in committee votes.

[BumRushDaShow]

44. I had mentioned up thread about Jeff Fortenberry

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=3072453

He was indicted, was then convicted when he had his trial, and finally resigned a couple days after the conviction.

[cilla4progress]

39. So much

good news!

Maybe I'll start cocktail hour a little early...just to celebrate?

[Paladin]

43. Fuckin' A!!!

What a great day this is.

[mgardener]

45. Elise Stefanik supported him

And never called for him to resign.
And she still supports Trump.
She is such a poor judge of character.
She is also an ethical and moral coward.

[Hotler]

55. A win, I'll take it. nt

[jmowreader]

56. At this time we should not theorize on the nature and cause of this action

This is because with George Santos, it could be ANYTHING.

If they try hauling him in for all the wrongdoing he has committed in his brief existence on this mortal coil, they'll need a hand truck to bring the charging instrument into the courtroom. So...they've probably picked a nice half-dozen of his most egregious offenses that are sure to bring a smile to one and all and a nice stay in a gated community somewhere in the state.

[prodigitalson]

57. i bet it's the credit card swipe/scam thingy

[PortTack]

58. Little kevieeee said if santos were criminally charged, they would remove him from office

3…..2…………1

More lies

[area51]

59. Go for it, Georgie!

Run back to your native Brazil.

[Nixie]

60. I hope we get a perp walk out of this!

[lindysalsagal]

61. I'm old enough to remember when the GQP claimed to be the "Law and Order" party

[LeftInTX]

62. They still do!

Law and Order for everyone but them!

[lark2]

66. Karma!!!

[Hekate]

67. KnR