Federal and state investigators are probing Republican Rep. George Santos’ role in the sale of a $19 million yacht involving two of his wealthy donors, according to a law enforcement official.
The law enforcement interest in the sale, first reported by The New York Times, underscores the far reaches of the investigations into the embattled congressman’s finances. Santos previously told Semafor he collected referral fees by brokering these sorts of deals.
How Santos – who has lied repeatedly about his resume and background – obtained the money to help underwrite his House campaign has been one of the central questions swirling around the Long Island congressman. His win last year helped Republicans obtain a narrow majority in the chamber. But Santos had been embroiled in controversy before he even entered office and is the subject of state and federal probes into his finances, along with a House ethics committee investigation.
Santos has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. On Wednesday, his attorney, Joe Murray, said he could not comment on the substance of any allegations against his client, but said: “I’m getting a little tired of all these investigations being leaked into the public.”
“It takes away from the integrity of the investigation,” Murray said.
Officials with the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office and the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York declined to comment.
The New York Times reported that prosecutors and federal agents have recently tried to question the owner of the yacht – Raymond Tantillo, a New York auto dealer – about the purchase and his interactions with Santos, including political donations.
Tantillo purchased the boat from Mayra Ruiz, a GOP donor from Miami, with Santos negotiating the payment and helping arrange the logistics, the Times reported.
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