Over the last three months Rep. George Santos (R-NY) has refunded far more money to donors than his re-election campaign has brought in, according to a report.
The Long Island Republican, who has been indicted on 23 federal criminal charges, issued $17,000 in refunds while listing less than $674 in contributions between June 30 and Sept. 30 in his campaign’s third-quarter financial disclosure, according to the Washington Post.
The Santos campaign spent more than $42,000 during that time period and amassed more than $120,000 in new debt, according to the outlet, leaving the 35-year-old congressman’s campaign account with only $23,000 in funds.
Legal expenses totalling nearly $69,000 and a $10,000 catering bill at Il Bacco – a Queens, NY, Italian restaurant – are listed among the campaigns’ debts, according to his filing with the Federal Election Commission.
Santos was charged with 13 criminal counts in May by the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York for allegedly embezzling money from his campaign and lying to Congress.
In a superseding indictment issued last week, Santos was hit with 10 additional counts alleging that he stole the identities of campaign donors and racked up tens of thousands of dollars on their credit cards without authorization.
He has denied any wrongdoing.
Santos admitted to The Post that he lied about his employment history, college education and religion on the campaign trail shortly after winning his 2022 midterm election race in New York’s 3rd Congressional District.
The cash-strapped congressman, who is also facing a House Ethics Committee investigation, will face off against at least seven challengers in his 2024 re-election attempt – if he makes it that far.
Nassau County Rep. Anthony D’Esposito announced last week that he will be “introducing an expulsion resolution to rid the People’s House of fraudster, George Santos.”
Empire State GOP Reps. Nick LaLota, Mike Lawler, Marc Molinaro, Nick Langworthy and Brandon Williams will co-sponsor the measure, which needs a two-thirds majority to be successful.
Santos is slated to appear in Long Island federal court on Oct. 27.