The Department of Justice on Wednesday charged Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., with seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering campaign funds, one count of theft of public funds and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives. With the exception of unlawfully applying for and receiving unemployment benefits, the allegations brought against Santos involve crimes only political figures can commit.
With the exception of unlawfully applying for and receiving unemployment benefits, the allegations brought against Santos involve crimes only political figures can commit.
If Santos is found guilty, then he must be punished. Not just because such a verdict would indicate that he violated specific criminal statutes, but also because the types of crimes alleged here go to the heart of what it means to breach the public trust. These are crimes that undermine our political system and whatever faith we have left in a functioning democracy.
Santos has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges and, in a now-familiar retort to criminal charges, called the indictment a “witch hunt.”
The Department of Justice here alleged that Santos lied when he was running to become a member of Congress and then lied once he was one. The first set of allegations in the indictment involves a fraudulent campaign finance scheme to essentially steal money from people who believed they were giving campaign contributions. Specifically, the DOJ alleges that Santos directed a political consultant to ask people for money by saying the money would be used to help elect Santos, when, the DOJ alleges, the money was used by Santos to pay for personal expenses like designer clothes.
The next set of allegations involves lies Santos reportedly told once he was in Congress, namely, false statements on House Disclosure Reports. House members must complete these reports in order to promote government transparency and accountability. The DOJ alleges that…
Read the full article here