George Santos calls federal charges a ‘witch hunt’ and refuses to resign following arrest
George Santos described criminal charges against him as a “witch hunt” in a defiant press conference following his arrest on Wednesday. The New York congressman spoke outside a federal courthouse after being arraigned on charges of fraud, theft of public funds and money laundering. “It’s a witch hunt,” he told a crowd of reporters. “I’m gonna fight my battle, I’m gonna deliver, I’m gonna fight the witch hunt, I’m gonna take care of clearing my name,” he said, adding that he was planning to run for reelection. The 34-year-old congressman for New York’s third district, who won his election after a campaign that was littered with lies about his past, was arrested shortly after 9am after turning himself in to authorities. In the 13-count indictment, federal prosecutors accused Mr Santos of lying on financial disclosure forms he filed to the House when he became a candidate, first by overstating his income from one job and failing to disclose income from another, and secondly by lying about his earnings from his company, the Devolder Organization. Prosecutors also allege that Mr Santos fraudulently used donations to his political campaign for his own benefit, spending “thousands of dollars of the solicited funds on personal expenses, including luxury designer clothing and credit card payments.” The indictment alleges that Mr Santos’s fraud began before his successful run for Congress, accusing him of running an unemployment insurance fraud scheme in which he applied for government assistance in New York while still employed by a Florida-based investment firm. “Taken together, the allegations in the indictment charge Santos with relying on repeated dishonesty and deception to ascend to the halls of Congress and enrich himself,” Breon Peace, the US attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said in a statement. Mr Santos pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on a $500,000 bond following his arraignment, which lasted for around 15 minutes. His lawyer said that the congressman surrendered his passport to the court. Mr Santos could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Read More Here are the 13 counts New York Rep. George Santos faces George Santos pleads not guilty to duping donors, stealing campaign cash to burnish wealthy image George Santos pleads not guilty to 13 charges – live
1970-01-01 08:00
Analysis-China keeps up campaign to pressure critics abroad despite Western backlash
By Matt Spetalnick, David Brunnstrom and Michael Martina WASHINGTON China is facing a growing backlash from the United
1970-01-01 08:00
Google is giving its dominant search engine an artificial-intelligence makeover
Google has disclosed plans to infuse its dominant search engine with more advanced artificial-intelligence technology
1970-01-01 08:00
U.S. government posts smaller $176 billion April surplus as revenues shrink
By David Lawder WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. government reported a $176 billion surplus in April, down sharply from a year-ago
1970-01-01 08:00
House GOP leaders face internal rebellion over border bill
House GOP leaders are scrambling to quell an internal rebellion over their border security bill, according to multiple GOP sources, putting the timing of the legislation's passage in limbo.
1970-01-01 08:00
US Army sergeant sentenced to 25 years for Black Lives Matter protester's murder
(Reuters) -A U.S. Army sergeant was sentenced to 25 years in a Texas prison on Wednesday for killing a man
1970-01-01 08:00
George Santos: Congressman pleads not guilty to fraud charges
He is accused of laundering funds, lying to Congress and illegally receiving unemployment benefits.
1970-01-01 08:00
Ukraine's occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant faces possible staffing crunch
Ukraine’s atomic energy company is claiming that Russia plans to relocate around 3,100 Ukrainian staff from Europe’s largest nuclear plant
1970-01-01 08:00
George Santos pleads not guilty to 13 federal charges, including fraud and money laundering
Rep. George Santos, a New York Republican, pleaded not guilty to allegations of fraud and money laundering in a Long Island courtroom Wednesday.
1970-01-01 08:00
Alberta wildfires test Premier Smith's crisis management skills ahead of election
By Nia Williams An intense start to wildfire season in Canada's main oil province Alberta has put Premier
1970-01-01 08:00
Kambo: Australia investigates suspected frog mucus deaths
Authorities believe shamanic rituals played a role in the deaths of Natasha Lechner and Jarrad Antonovich.
1970-01-01 08:00
FDA advisers vote unanimously in support of over-the-counter birth-control pill
Advisers for the US Food and Drug Administration voted unanimously on Wednesday in support of making a birth control pill named Opill available over-the-counter, saying the benefits outweigh the risks.
1970-01-01 08:00