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During an interview with CNN’s Manu Raju on Sunday, Congressman George Santos appeared less hopeful about his future.
The politician, who is currently facing almost 20 serious accusations, has entered a plea of not guilty for all of the charges brought against him. On October 10th, the Department of Justice issued a revised indictment, bringing the total number of charges to 23. The latest indictment accuses him of identity theft and fraudulently charging his own donors’ credit cards, in order to boost the perceived financial backing of his 2022 congressional campaign.
However, when questioned by CNN, the New York Republican did not display the boldness he has shown in previous interviews and statements to reporters on Capitol Hill. He stood firm against calls for his resignation or removal, criticizing his critics for acting as “judge, jury, and executioner”. Although he maintained his stance of not resigning, he did not dismiss the potential of accepting a plea deal from the Department of Justice.
“I am not completely dismissing the possibility of …, but at the moment, it is not being considered. I am not currently looking into any of that. Those discussions have not yet taken place…right now, my main focus is on my defense.”
During an interview with CNN, Mr. Santos admitted to making “errors” in handling his campaign’s financial matters. However, he refuted any allegations of intentionally making false statements. He also denied being aware of any intentional exaggeration of his campaign’s wealth, and stated that he had minimal involvement or understanding of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings.
“I have never submitted or reviewed any reports,” he stated. “As a candidate, it is not my responsibility to manage funds or financial matters, nor am I involved in filing processes. I am not familiar with the FEC filing system.”
The resistance he displayed seems to have lessened somewhat due to the confession of his ex-campaign treasurer, Nancy Marks, and her subsequent assertion of his participation in the fundraising plot.
In October, Marks stated in court that he collaborated with co-conspirator #1 in order to benefit him and raise money for his campaign. This was done by artificially increasing his funds to meet requirements set by a national political committee. Mr. Santos is the individual being referred to.
Despite facing an attempt by the GOP to remove him from the House of Representatives, Mr. Santos was able to survive due to several Democrats voting against the effort. They argued that it would be best to wait for the conclusion of a House Ethics Committee investigation. However, the congressman continues to cause embarrassment for his party’s leadership, as they are frequently questioned about their controversial new member.
However, Mr. Santos has made a promise to run for re-election in 2024 and fulfill a second term if granted the opportunity by voters. Surveys conducted in 2023 showed that up to 70% of the inhabitants in his area think he should step down from his position.
Source: the-independent.com
