Prosecutors handed Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., much more than 80,000 pages of discovery components to review in the federal fraud circumstance towards him all through his short look court docket on Friday.
Santos, dressed in a gray accommodate with pink tie, was in a Very long Island courtroom for just about five minutes as the decide determined the situation timetable, with his subsequent court day established for Sept. 7. The embattled congressman did not communicate, but his legal professional Joseph Murray explained the upcoming congressional recess in August would be a “superb” time to review the mound of evidence prosecutors introduced.
Santos faces a 13-depend federal indictment, with 7 counts of wire fraud, three counts of income laundering, one particular depend of theft of general public funds, and two counts of earning materially bogus statements to the Household of Associates.
He has pleaded not guilty to the rates and preserved his innocence even as a number of of his House colleagues, such as some Republicans, have identified as for his resignation or expulsion from the physique.
Residence ETHICS Problems 30 SUBPOENAS IN GEORGE SANTOS INVESTIGATION
Rep. George Santos, middle, departs federal court with his lawyer Joseph Murray, still left, on June 30, 2023, in Central Islip, New York, Prosecutors handed Santos additional than 80,000 internet pages of discovery paperwork to evaluation in the federal fraud case from him. (Howard Schnapp/Newsday RM through Getty Pictures)
The rates stem from allegations that Santos duped donors, stole from his marketing campaign, gathered fraudulent unemployment positive aspects, and lied to Congress about remaining a millionaire.
Taken together, the allegations propose Santos relied on “repeated dishonesty and deception to ascend to the halls of Congress and enrich himself,” according to U.S. Lawyer Breon Peace.
Santos has denied the expenses and labeled the federal investigation a “witch hunt.” He has pledged to both continue to be in Congress and seek out re-election in 2024.
A handful of protesters, contacting on their own Involved Citizens of NY-03, awaited Santos and his lawful defense workforce outdoors the courthouse Friday. They chanted “resign” and “shame” as Santos left the building.
Court UNSEALS NAMES OF GEORGE SANTOS’ BOND GUARANTORS
A protester holds a signal outdoors federal court docket in Central Islip, New York, on June 30, 2023. Richard Osthoff is a Navy veteran who states Santos stole a lot more than $3,000 that was elevated to pay for surgical procedures for his dog, which afterwards died. (Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Pictures)
A person of the protesters was Richard Osthoff, a Navy veteran who suggests Santos stole far more than $3,000 that was lifted to pay for medical procedures for his canine, which later died. The FBI is analyzing Osthoff’s promises while Santos has claimed he’s an animal lover who would never enable a pet die.
“You killed my puppy!” Osthoff yelled at Santos as the congressman walked to his motor vehicle. He and the other demonstrators spoke to reporters and known as for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., to expel Santos from Congress.
“You obtained no backbone, Kevin McCarthy,” Osthoff explained. “Wake up to yourself, man. This man is bringing you down. He’s making your total celebration seem horrendous. It can be time for him to go.”
A further protester, Taiva Mahmad, accused McCarthy of leaving users of New York’s 3rd Congressional District with out powerful representation in Congress by permitting Santos to remain in the Property.
“McCarthy feels we do not require correct representation as he watches George Santos desecrate his congressional seat,” Mahmad claimed.
Federal prosecutors allege Santos in June 2020 wrongly claimed he had been unemployed considering the fact that March of that year and gained gains through April 2021. The indictment states that for the duration of that time, Santos was acquiring a $120,000 income as a regional director at a Florida-centered financial commitment business.
GEORGE SANTOS Turns into TREASURER OF HIS Very own Campaign Pursuing INDICTMENT
Rep. George Santos is introduced with a miniature American flag as he departs federal courtroom on June 30, 2023, in Central Islip, New York. (Howard Schnapp/Newsday RM via Getty Pictures)
He also allegedly pocketed tens of thousands of bucks in campaign contributions, laundering it into his own financial institution accounts so that he could pay back down his debt and buy designer clothes.
The Dwelling Ethics Committee has opened a parallel probe into the allegations from Santos and has issued additional than 30 subpoenas to decide no matter whether he “engaged in illegal exercise with respect to his 2022 congressional campaign unsuccessful to properly disclose demanded information and facts on statements submitted with the House violated federal conflict of desire regulations in link with his function in a organization supplying fiduciary solutions and/or engaged in sexual misconduct in direction of an unique trying to get employment in his congressional workplace.”
Santos was launched from federal custody following publishing a $500,000 bond in May secured by his father Gercino dos Santos and aunt Elma Santos Preven.
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As Santos exited the courthouse, a lone supporter greeted him and gave him an American flag. Santos smiled as he approved the flag, and walked to the car or truck that was ready for him.
Fox News’ Danielle Wallace, Greg Wehner, Marta Dhanis and The Affiliated Push contributed to this report.
