Fraud, money laundering, conspiracy against the USA – these are just some of the allegations. At a court appearance, the Republican pleaded not guilty.
Republican US Representative George Santos, accused of fraud and theft, must stand trial. Judge Joanna Seybert scheduled the trial to begin on September 9, 2024, as the court in New York announced on Friday. Santos pleaded not guilty at the court hearing.
The public prosecutor’s office accuses the 35-year-old Republican, among other things, of making false statements to the FEC electoral commission. Santos is also charged with falsifying documents to obstruct the FEC, conspiracy against the United States, fraud, aggravated identity theft, money laundering and theft of public funds. He is also said to have made false statements to the House of Representatives.
Santos had already pleaded not guilty after an initial indictment in May and was released after paying bail. Now an expanded and supplemented indictment has been added.
The Republican has been a member of a New York district in the US House of Representatives since last November and presents himself as a supporter of former US President Donald Trump. His rise to the federal political stage was overshadowed from the start by allegations of fraud and deception. The Republican is said to have invented a large part of the resume with which he presented himself to voters in 2022.
Despite repeated calls for his resignation from Democrats and individual Republicans, Santos continues to sit as a member of the Congressional Chamber. Recently, however, calls for his exclusion from the chamber have increased. Republican Rep. Anthony D’Esposito introduced a motion to that effect.
Source: Stern
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