George Santos pleads not guilty to new fraud charges in New York

In New York, U.S. Representative George Santos has reaffirmed his innocence by entering a not guilty plea on Friday in response to revised charges leveled against him. These new allegations encompass a range of fraudulent activities, including unauthorized charges totaling tens of thousands of dollars on credit cards belonging to campaign donors. The court proceedings transpired at a Long Island courthouse, with legal representation entering the plea on Santos’ behalf. This follows his previous not guilty plea to charges initially filed in May, which accused him of deceiving Congress about his financial status, wrongfully obtaining unemployment benefits, and misappropriating campaign funds for personal expenses, such as high-end clothing.

This legal development unfolds in the wake of an initiative by some of Santos’ fellow New York Republicans to expel him from Congress. Santos refrained from making statements to reporters as he exited the courthouse, though he did acknowledge a group of protesters across the street.

A trial has been tentatively scheduled for September, after the state’s congressional primary, as per the decision of U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert. Prosecutors had sought an expedited trial in May, a request that was denied. Meanwhile, Santos remains free on bail pending trial, vehemently denying substantial wrongdoing and attributing irregularities in his government regulatory filings to his former campaign treasurer, Nancy Marks, whom he alleges acted independently.

Marks, in her guilty plea on a fraud conspiracy charge, claimed that she assisted Santos in deceiving Republican party officials during his 2022 campaign by submitting falsified Federal Election Committee filings. These filings purportedly inflated his wealth, in part by fabricating a $500,000 loan from his personal assets. Despite the charges against him, Santos has retained his position as the representative for his New York district, resisting calls from fellow Republicans to resign.

U.S. Representative Anthony D’Esposito, representing an adjacent congressional district, introduced a resolution seeking Santos’ expulsion from the House, citing his alleged unsuitability to serve constituents. Four other New York Republicans, U.S. Representatives Nick LaLota, Michael Lawler, Marc Molinaro, and Brandon Williams, joined this call.

Santos has offered cryptic statements on social media, stating, “Everything has an end in life,” but later clarified that he has not vacated his office, does not intend to resign, and asserts his entitlement to due process.

Despite his legal challenges, Santos has expressed his intent to run for re-election next year, though conviction could potentially result in a lengthy prison sentence. During his successful 2022 campaign, Santos’ inspirational life story was later found to be built on falsehoods, including fabrications regarding his employment history at major Wall Street firms, false claims of college athletic achievements, and misleading statements about his heritage. While these falsehoods have not resulted in criminal charges, Santos does face allegations of submitting a false financial disclosure to the U.S. House to bolster his image as a successful investor.

Before entering his plea, the judge presided over a hearing to evaluate potential conflicts of interest involving Santos’ attorney, Joseph Murray, who has connections to two other individuals involved in the case. Marks had previously served as the treasurer for Murray’s unsuccessful 2019 campaign for Queens district attorney, and Murray disclosed a personal relationship with an unnamed individual identified as Person No. 1 in the indictment, stating that he would recuse himself from cross-examination if this person were called as a witness.

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• George Santos pleads not guilty to new fraud charges
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• Joseph Murray’s potential conflicts of interest