Request Denied
Former U.S. Representative George Santos faced a setback on Friday as U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert rejected his request to dismiss three of the 23 charges against him, including aggravated identity theft and theft of public money. Santos, who is heading towards trial, sought to have part of the criminal case against him removed.
Aggravated Identity Theft
The aggravated identity theft charges stem from allegations that Santos used campaign donors’ credit card information to make unauthorized contributions. Prosecutors claim he also attempted to conceal the true source of the funds and circumvent campaign contribution limits by attributing donations to relatives and associates without their consent.
Santos’ defense argued that these charges were invalid, asserting that the allegations only involved overcharging credit cards that had been voluntarily provided to him. Prosecutors countered, stating that Santos had “abused” the credit card information with the intent to defraud and falsely inflate his campaign funds.
Theft of Public Money
The theft of public money charge is linked to accusations that Santos collected unemployment benefits while working. Santos’ legal team contended that this charge improperly combined multiple alleged criminal schemes and transactions, which courts have previously deemed impermissible. Prosecutors maintained that the charge represented a “single continuing scheme.”
Court Proceedings and Next Steps
Santos pleaded not guilty to a revised indictment in October. He is scheduled to go on trial in September in Central Islip, Long Island. Both prosecutors and Santos’ attorneys declined to comment on the recent ruling.
Background and Political Implications
In April, Santos abandoned his bid to return to Congress as an independent candidate for New York’s 1st Congressional District, located on Long Island. The trial and subsequent proceedings will likely have significant implications for Santos’ political future and public image.
