George Santos (left), Mitt Romney.Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty, Drew Angerer/Getty
Utah Sen.Mitt Romneyoffered a scathing assessment of New York Rep.George Santos' indictment on Wednesday, saying his fellow Republican “should not be in the United States Congress — perhaps should not even be on the public streets.”
Santos, 34,pleaded not guilty to 13 criminal countsin federal court on Wednesday after prosecutorsunsealed an indictmenthours earlier, whichcharged himwith seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives.
If convicted, the freshman Republican congressman faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the top counts, according to the Justice Department.
Santos surrendered to federal authorities at a suburban Long Island courthouse Wednesday morning ahead of a scheduled 1 p.m. ET arraignment before a U.S. magistrate judge in Central Islip, New York. He was released on $500,000 bond, according to the Associated Press.
Matt Agudo / SplashNews.com
Inan unsealed indictment, federal prosecutors say Santos 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.
Romney has been vocal in his criticism of Santos in recent months, following a bombshellNew York Timesreport that raised questions about the Republican lawmaker’s background.
Romney wasfilmed confronting the freshman lawmakerat this year’sState of the Unionaddress.
Romney later criticized Santos for taking a front aisle seat and “trying to shake hands” with Biden, 80, which Romney considered inappropriate “given the fact that he’s under ethics investigation,” he told reporters.
“He should be sitting in the back row and staying quiet instead of parading in front of the president and people coming into the room,” he said.
The senator also called Santos"a sick puppy"for his lies, according to USA Today.
He told CNN he didn’t hear if Santos responded at the time. Santos, however, did seemingly make a more public response,tweeting"Hey @MittRomney just a reminder that you will NEVER be PRESIDENT!" after the event.
source: people.com
