GOP Rep. George Santos (NY) was arrested on Wednesday after being charged with fraud, money laundering, and theft of public funds, the Justice Department has said.
While the nature of the charges is unclear, federal investigators were probing possible campaign finance violations.
As Sky News reported:
The US politician, who has resisted calls to resign for lying about his resume, was arrested on federal criminal charges ahead of an expected court appearance.
According to the DOJ, he has been charged with 13 counts, including seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds, and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives.
Federal prosecutors have been examining false statement allegations in Santos’ campaign filings.
As CNN reported on Tuesday:
Federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against New York Rep. George Santos, the Republican lawmaker whose astonishing pattern of lies and fabrications stunned even hardened politicos, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
Santos is expected to appear at federal court in New York’s eastern district as soon as Wednesday, where the charges have been filed under seal.
The exact nature of the charges couldn’t immediately be learned, but the FBI and the Justice Department public integrity prosecutors in New York and Washington have been examining allegations of false statements in Santos’ campaign finance filings and other claims.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy confirmed Santos would be removed from Congress if it was determined he broke the law.
Will he be sharing a cell with Liz “Liawatha” Warren? Ohhhhh…wait. As a Democrat she’s clear to say and do whatever she likes without consequences! I forgot for a moment how that works. I’ll do better. Don’t send the FBI to raid me!
He is no different than dozens of others that infest the DC Swamp.