AP Top NewsCampaign financeElectionsGeneral NewsGeorge SantosNew YorkU.S. News US Rep. George Santos’ former campaign treasurer pleads guilty to a conspiracy charge by Ryan Lee October 5, 2023 written by Ryan Lee October 5, 2023 0 comments Bookmark 45 The former campaign treasurer for U.S. Rep. George Santos, Nancy Marks, has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge related to defrauding the U.S. government and submitting false campaign finance reports. Marks, who had been a close aide to Santos during his congressional bids, made this admission in a federal courthouse on Long Island. Marks confessed to falsely recording in campaign finance reports that Santos had loaned his campaign $500,000, even though this loan was not real, and he did not have the funds for it. The purpose of this deception was to create the illusion of a well-funded campaign, which might attract additional donors. Additionally, Marks acknowledged providing the Federal Elections Commission with a fake list of donors, using real names but with fabricated donations, without the donors’ permission. Her guilty plea agreement includes a recommended prison sentence of 3 1/2 to 4 years. While there was no mention of a cooperation deal with prosecutors in court, Marks’s potential testimony could have serious implications for Rep. Santos, who faces charges of embezzlement, making false financial disclosures to Congress, and receiving unemployment funds improperly. A spokesperson for Rep. Santos did not comment on the matter before Marks’ court appearance, while Marks’ lawyer, Ray Perini, suggested that Santos had manipulated his client, citing personal and family circumstances as contributing factors. Although Marks has not formally entered into a cooperation agreement with prosecutors, her willingness to testify against Santos if subpoenaed remains a possibility. Marks resigned as Santos’ treasurer amid growing concerns about his campaign’s finances and revelations of fabricated details in his life story. Santos faces a 13-count federal indictment involving charges of money laundering and false statements to Congress. The investigation into Santos, a first-term congressman, has also cast a shadow over Marks, a significant figure in Long Island Republican politics who provided consulting and treasurer services to numerous political candidates. Questions have arisen about Santos’ campaign filings, including unusual expenses just below the legal disclosure limit. Santos, in response, has tried to shift blame onto Marks, alleging that she acted independently without his knowledge. While Santos has admitted to fabricating aspects of his background, questions linger about his employment history and the source of over $700,000 initially claimed as a personal loan to his campaign. Santos has pleaded not guilty to charges of deceiving donors, misappropriating campaign funds, lying to Congress about his financial status, and fraudulently collecting unemployment benefits. He has resisted calls to resign from his congressional post. Aside from Santos, Marks’ most notable client was former U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, with whom she had ties during his gubernatorial campaign in 2022. Additionally, public records show that Marks was associated with a political consulting firm incorporated in Florida, with connections to Santos’ company and individuals previously linked to a securities firm facing allegations of being a Ponzi scheme. Marks becomes the second person, besides Santos, to face charges related to the campaign. In August, a former fundraiser for Santos, Sam Miele, was indicted on federal charges for impersonating a high-ranking staff member of another Congressman. Miele pleaded not guilty, with his attorney predicting exoneration at trial. Table of Contents Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Campaign Finance ScandalWhat is the core issue in this news article?What specific actions did Nancy Marks admit to in her guilty plea?What potential legal consequences does Nancy Marks face?How might Nancy Marks’ testimony impact Rep. George Santos?What are the allegations against Rep. George Santos?Are there any other individuals involved in this case?What is the background of Nancy Marks in political campaigns?What discrepancies have been raised regarding Rep. Santos’ campaign finances?Has Rep. George Santos responded to these developments?Is there any information about the outcome of Sam Miele’s case?More about Campaign Finance Scandal Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Campaign Finance Scandal What is the core issue in this news article? The core issue in this news article revolves around Nancy Marks, the former campaign treasurer for U.S. Rep. George Santos, pleading guilty to a conspiracy charge related to defrauding the U.S. government and submitting false campaign finance reports. What specific actions did Nancy Marks admit to in her guilty plea? Nancy Marks admitted to several actions in her guilty plea, including falsely recording in campaign finance reports that Rep. Santos had loaned his campaign $500,000, even though he hadn’t, and providing the Federal Elections Commission with a fake list of donors. What potential legal consequences does Nancy Marks face? Nancy Marks’ guilty plea agreement includes a recommended prison sentence of 3 1/2 to 4 years. However, the article does not mention whether there are additional penalties or fines she might be subject to. How might Nancy Marks’ testimony impact Rep. George Santos? While there was no discussion of a cooperation deal with prosecutors in court, Nancy Marks indicated she would be willing to testify against Rep. Santos if subpoenaed. Her potential testimony could be detrimental to Rep. Santos, who is facing multiple charges, including embezzlement and making false financial disclosures. What are the allegations against Rep. George Santos? Rep. George Santos faces a 13-count federal indictment centered on charges of money laundering, lying to Congress in financial disclosures, and receiving unemployment funds improperly. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges. Are there any other individuals involved in this case? Yes, besides Nancy Marks and Rep. Santos, there is mention of Sam Miele, a former fundraiser for Santos, who was indicted on federal charges for impersonating a high-ranking staff member of another Congressman. Miele has pleaded not guilty to these charges. What is the background of Nancy Marks in political campaigns? Nancy Marks had a significant role in Long Island Republican politics, serving as a treasurer and consultant to numerous local, state, and federal candidates. She was also known for her ties to Rep. Lee Zeldin and had business associations with Rep. Santos. What discrepancies have been raised regarding Rep. Santos’ campaign finances? Questions have arisen about Rep. Santos’ campaign filings, including unusual expenses just below the legal disclosure limit. Rep. Santos has accused Nancy Marks of acting independently and causing these discrepancies, while the source of over $700,000 initially claimed as a personal loan to his campaign remains unclear. Has Rep. George Santos responded to these developments? Rep. Santos has not commented on Nancy Marks’ guilty plea or the related legal issues as of the time of this news article. Is there any information about the outcome of Sam Miele’s case? The article mentions that Sam Miele, another individual involved in this case, pleaded not guilty to the federal charges against him. His attorney predicted exoneration at trial, but there is no further information about the outcome of his case in this article. More about Campaign Finance Scandal Nancy Marks Pleads Guilty Rep. George Santos Charges Sam Miele Indictment Rep. Lee Zeldin Campaign Finance Reports Federal Elections Commission U.S. Politics Long Island Republican Politics Money Laundering Charges False Financial Disclosures Unemployment Benefits You Might Be Interested In DuckDuckGo founder says Google’s phone and manufacturing partnerships thwart competition Hurricane Lee Advances Over Open Sea, Heading Toward Atlantic Canada Gaza has become a moonscape in war. 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