The Republican elected to the US House of Representatives George Santos, whose lies have made the headlines of the political and media world since his election in 2022, was arrested on Wednesday morning and charged with 13 financial frauds, announced US justice. .
The 34-year-old New York state official, indicted by a grand jury, “is in custody” in federal court pending his appearance on Wednesday afternoon, a spokesperson for the federal prosecutor’s office said. Eastern District of New York.
He was charged with wire fraud, money laundering, embezzlement of public funds as well as making false statements to the House of Representatives, a statement from the prosecution said.
The indictment, to which the elected Republican pleaded not guilty, accuses George Santos of having defrauded donors to his electoral campaign by transferring a certain amount of money to his personal bank account.
He is also accused of making false financial statements to the House of Representatives about his assets and income, as well as receiving unemployment benefits to which he was not entitled, before his election to Congress. .
After his election in November, and following revelations from the New York TimesGeorge Santos had admitted to having grossly lied about whole parts of his life to embellish his CV, but he has since remained deaf to calls for his resignation.
Born of parents from Brazil, the one who presented himself as a symbol of the “American dream” was accused of having lied or of having exaggerated reality by presenting himself as “an American proud to be Jewish”, or even as the grandson of Holocaust survivors who fled Nazi barbarism.
It is the subject of multiple investigations, from Congress to Brazil.
Asked about the possible indictment of George Santos, the leader of the House of Representatives, Republican Kevin McCarthy, said Tuesday that he would look at “the charges” before considering any expulsion from Congress.