NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. Representative George Santos is set to return to court Friday for the first time since pleading not guilty last month to deceiving donors, stealing his campaign, collecting fraudulent unemployment benefits and lying to Congress about being a millionaire.
The New York Republican, known for fabricating key pieces of his life story, is free pending trial. He is scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert at a Long Island courthouse at noon. The hearing is expected to focus on scheduling future court dates as the case against the Republican congressman progresses.
Federal prosecutors have charged Santos with 13 counts of wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds and making false statements to Congress. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Taken together, the allegations suggest that Santos relied on “repeated dishonesty and deceit to ascend the halls of Congress and enrich himself,” according to U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace.
Santos condemned the federal investigation as a “witch hunt,” promising not just to stay in Congress, but to seek re-election. Republican leaders have urged Santos not to run again, but have postponed efforts to eject the freshman representative who could reduce their slim majority.
Federal prosecutors say Santos misappropriated funds he raised for his campaign on personal expenses, including designer clothes and credit cards.
He’s also accused of lying about his finances on congressional disclosure forms and getting unemployment benefits while earning $120,000 as a regional manager for an investment firm, which was later terminated. closed following allegations that it was a Ponzi scheme.
As part of his bond agreement, Santos must tell the court if he plans to travel outside of New York or Washington, D.C. He said he received clearance to do so this week before flying to El Paso, Texas, where he called for increased border security. and brushed off questions about the federal investigation.
“I might have my fair share of tangles that the media seems to like,” he said. “That’s right, but I ran to get things done.”