Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) Caught in Numerous Lies and False Claims
Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) has been caught in numerous lies and falsified his personal history and resume, casting a harsh spotlight on a powerful Republican who endorsed and raised money for him.[0] On Tuesday, Santos’ political operation filed a flurry of amended campaign finance reports, telling the feds, among other things, that a $500,000 loan he gave to his campaign didn’t, in fact, come from his personal funds as he’d previously claimed.[1]
An investigation by Mother Jones revealed that the 2020 Santos campaign has received more than a dozen major donations for which the identity or the location of the donor is not able to be verified. Media reports have not yet acknowledged the more than $30,000 worth of questionable donations that the Santos campaign received from individual donors in 2020, out of the total of $338,000.
Thomas Datwyler was identified on an electronic line intended for the treasurer’s signature.[2] However, his attorney, Ross, told The Daily Beast that “it appears there’s a disconnect between that conversation and the filings today, which we did not authorize.”[3]
The Justice Department has reportedly asked the Federal Elections Commission to hold off on any enforcement action against Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., amid a dual investigation by federal prosecutors into his campaign.[4] The Washington Post was informed by David M. Mason, a former Federal Election Commission (FEC) commissioner, that the FEC does not wish for two sets of investigators to be overlapping and potentially complicating any criminal case by their civil operations.[5]
Despite calls from some Republicans, including representatives from New York, for him to resign from Congress, Santos has refused to do so.[6] McCarthy has decided not to intervene in Santos' case, instead asserting that the people of his district will decide his fate in Congress.[6]
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) requested additional data concerning the contested filing on Thursday.[7] The Federal Election Commission has noticed that the treasurer information provided by Datwyler may not be accurate, correct, or complete, and has sent a letter asking for further information.[8] The request also asked that the FEC provide any relevant documents to the Justice Department.[2]
The latest political mysteries come from the Long Island fabulist, as part of an apparently never-ending chain of donations.[9]
0. “Will supporting Santos land Stefanik in the doghouse with donors?” WCAX, 27 Jan. 2023, https://www.wcax.com/2023/01/27/will-supporting-santos-land-stefanik-doghouse-with-donors/
1. “George Santos Fraudulent Signature Could Be Final Nail in Coffin” Newsweek, 26 Jan. 2023, https://www.newsweek.com/george-santos-fraudulent-signature-could-final-nail-coffin-1776750
2. “DOJ Moves on Gay U.S. Rep. George Santos, Asks FEC to Step Aside” Advocate.com, 30 Jan. 2023, https://www.advocate.com/politics/george-santos-doj-fec
3. “George Santos' Campaign Might Face a New Criminal Probe” The Daily Beast, 28 Jan. 2023, https://www.thedailybeast.com/george-santos-campaign-might-face-a-new-criminal-probe
4. “Some of George Santos' 2020 campaign donors may not exist: report” Business Insider, 28 Jan. 2023, https://www.businessinsider.com/george-santos-campaign-list-donors-who-may-not-exist-report-2023-1
5. “FEC asked to hold off on George Santos probe amid separate DOJ investigation: report” Fox News, 28 Jan. 2023, https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fec-asked-hold-george-santos-probe-separate-doj-investigation
6. “House Democrats want to deny George Santos access to classified information” CBS News, 26 Jan. 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/george-santos-classified-information-house-democrats-gregory-meeks-joseph-morelle/
7. “Justice Department asks FEC to stand down as prosecutors probe Santos” The Washington Post, 28 Jan. 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2023/01/27/santos-doj-investigation-fec/
8. “FEC presses George Santos campaign after it lists treasurer who denies taking the job” CNBC, 27 Jan. 2023, https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/27/elections-agency-presses-george-santos-campaign-on-treasurer-claim.html
9. “We Tried to Call the Top Donors to George Santos' 2020 Campaign. Many Don't Seem to Exist. – Mother Jones” Mother Jones, 28 Jan. 2023, https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2023/01/we-tried-to-call-the-top-donors-to-george-santos-2020-campaign-many-dont-seem-to-exist
