Santos Released From Custody on $500,000 Bond, With Restricted Travel

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. — Rep. George Santos, the Republican whose victory in New York was soon followed by revelations that he had falsified his biography on the campaign trail, has been charged by federal prosecutors in a wide-ranging indictment accusing him of wire fraud, money laundering, stealing public funds and lying on federal disclosure forms.

Santos, 34, pleaded not guilty to all charges at a hearing in federal court on Long Island on Wednesday afternoon. He was released from custody on a $500,000 bond that was secured by three individuals, whose identities are not public, and his travel will be restricted to New York, Washington and places in between.

At a chaotic scene outside the courthouse, Santos told reporters that he thought the charges were a product of a “witch hunt,” choosing the same phrase that former President Donald Trump has used to describe his own inquiries. “I have to keep fighting to defend my innocence,” Santos said, “and I’m going to do that.”

Federal prosecutors say Santos was involved in three separate schemes.

The bulk of the indictment focuses on allegations that Santos directed an unnamed political consultant to solicit contributions to a company that he falsely claimed was a political fund. Prosecutors say Santos used the money for personal expenses, including buying designer clothing and making credit card payments.

The indictment also accuses Santos of fraudulently claiming unemployment benefits made available during the coronavirus pandemic. Prosecutors say Santos received more than $24,000 in unemployment payments while he was drawing a salary of $120,000 a year from a Florida-based investment firm.

And prosecutors say that Santos knowingly made false statements on financial disclosure forms during both of his congressional campaigns, in 2020 and 2022, to mislead the House of Representatives and the public about his finances. The indictment also alleges that Santos falsely inflated his salary during both campaigns, failed to disclose some income and lied about the balances in his checking and savings accounts.

The charges marked a precipitous turn in the fortunes of a first-term congressman who went from a symbol of Republican resurgence to a scandal-plagued political punching bag.

But it is unlikely to affect his immediate standing in Congress. Even as a growing number of rank-and-file Republicans are calling for Santos’ resignation, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has signaled that Santos will be allowed to continue to serve.

Santos has been besieged by questions about his background, his personal wealth and his campaign finances since December, when The New York Times and other outlets began reporting on numerous lies about his biography, education and work history that he had told voters on the campaign trail.

If convicted, Santos could face up to 20 years in prison for the top counts, according to the U.S. attorney’s office, which worked with the FBI and the Nassau County district attorney’s office to investigate.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Santos’ lawyer said that he would continue with his reelection bid, arguing that Santos needed to be able to travel outside New York and Washington “to engage in that election activity.” The judge permitted additional travel, so long as Santos received prior authorization from court officials.

Santos has for months denied any criminal wrongdoing, even as he has admitted to lying about going to Baruch College and playing volleyball there and later working for prestigious Wall Street firms.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times .