Republican Rep.George Santosis barred from speaking to at least four people — whose names have not been made public — while he awaits trial in his ongoing criminal fraud case, according to newly unsealed court documents.
In a bond hearing held in May — a transcript of which was recently made public — a judge tells Santos' aunt and father (who sponsored his $500,000 bond) that “there are individuals he’s not supposed to have contact with” as one of the conditions of his release, adding that those names were left off the bond paperwork.
During the hearing, an unidentified speaker notes that Santos has “already been advised” of the four individuals with whom he shouldn’t connect and adds: “Judge, just for the record, one of them contacted him when he left the court … He did not answer the phone.”
The speaker added that a screenshot of that call was sent “to the government,” along with a message asking officials to reach out to the person and “tell him not to call George … so he’s 100% compliant.”
The release order also shows that Santos will be subject to “pretrial supervision” and “subject to random home contacts and verification of employment as deemed appropriate to monitor compliance with the conditions of release.”
New York Rep. George Santos in January 2023.MICHAEL REYNOLDS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Within hours of being indicted, Santospleaded not guilty to all charges against himand was released on $500,000 bond.
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In anindictment, federal prosecutors say that the congressman allegedly “devised and executed a scheme” aimed at defrauding donors to his 2022 political campaign.
That scheme, prosecutors allege, included applying for and receiving unemployment benefits at the height of the pandemic — while he was employed and running a congressional campaign. The fraud continued, the indictment adds, when Santos allegedly began pocketing campaign contributions to buy designer clothing and pay off his personal debts.
Santos has generated substantial controversy since his election to Congress in November, particularly after abombshellNew York Timesreportfound that many of the claims he made on the campaign trail andon his resume— like his level of education, previous jobs and family ties to the Holocaust — were unable to be verified.
source: people.com
