Federal prosecutors are investigating Rep.-elect George Santos’ finances
Federal prosecutors are investigating Rep.-elect George Santos’ finances
By Pamela Brown, Carolyn Sung and Jack Forrest, CNN
Published 8:52 PM EST, Wed December 28, 2022
US Representative-elect George Santos speaks at the Republican Jewish Coalition Annual Leadership Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, on November 19, 2022.WADE VANDERVORT/AFP/AFP via Getty ImagesCNN —
Federal prosecutors in New York are investigating the finances of Rep.-elect George Santos, a source familiar with the matter told CNN.
The news of the probe, being undertaken by the US attorney’s office in the Eastern District of New York, comes as the Republican has admitted to lying about key parts of his biography. Santos has faced questions over his wealth and loans totaling more than $700,000 he made to his successful 2022 campaign.
Santos told Semafor on Wednesday that he made his money through “capital introduction” and “deal making” for “high net worth individuals.”
The US attorney’s office in the Eastern District of New York declined to comment.
CBS News first reported the federal probe, which comes as the Nassau County district attorney’s office announced Wednesday that it was looking into fabrications from Santos.
“The numerous fabrications and inconsistencies associated with Congressman-Elect Santos are nothing short of stunning,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly.
She said that residents in New York’s 3rd Congressional District, which covers parts of Nassau County, “must have an honest and accountable representative in Congress. No one is above the law and if a crime was committed in this county, we will prosecute it.”
Brendan Brosh, a spokesperson for the office, added, “We are looking into the matter.”
CNN has reached out to a representative for Santos for comment on the probes.
Enter your email to sign up for CNN’s “What Matters” Newsletter.
Sign up for CNN’s What Matters newsletter
Every day we summarize What Matters and deliver it straight to your inbox.Sign Me UpNo, Thanks
By subscribing you agree to our
The New York Times first revealed last week that Santos’ biography appeared to be partly fictional. CNN confirmed details of that reporting about his college education and employment history.
CNN’s KFile uncovered even more falsehoods from Santos, including claims he was forced to leave a New York City private school when his family’s real estate assets took a downturn and stating he represented Goldman Sachs at a top financial conference.
Santos, in interviews with WABC radio and the New York Post earlier this week, admitted to lying about attending Baruch College and New York University as well as misrepresenting his employment at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup but claimed he hadn’t committed any crimes.
CNN confirmed reporting from the Times that Santos was charged with embezzlement in a Brazilian court in 2011, according to case records from the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice. However, court records from 2013 state that the charge was archived after court summons went una
