The report into alleged monetary wrongdoing is an try and “smear” him, embattled lawmaker George Santos says
American Republican lawmaker George Santos illegally used marketing campaign funds for private bills like OnlyFans subscriptions and Botox remedies, a congressional ethics committee has claimed.
Underneath-fire New York Congressman Santos was arrested in Might on varied expenses of wire fraud, cash laundering and mendacity to Congress – and final month acquired one other indictment, including further expenses linked to id theft and a money-laundering scheme linked to his marketing campaign for re-election subsequent 12 months.
Amid additional probes into Santos’ alleged monetary wrongdoing, the Home Ethics Committee mentioned on Thursday that it has uncovered “substantial proof of potential violations of federal legal legislation,” including that it was referring the matter to the Justice Division.
“In gentle of the continuing legal investigation into Consultant Santos and the ISC’s (Investigative Subcommittee) findings of further uncharged and illegal conduct by Consultant Santos, the ISC really helpful that the committee instantly refer these allegations to the Division of Justice,” the report mentioned.
The six-member committee, which is split equally between Republican and Democrat affiliations, added in its report that 35-year-old Santos has “knowingly induced his marketing campaign committee to file false or incomplete stories with the Federal Election Fee (FEC).”
It additionally alleged that Santos had on quite a few events transferred cash donated to his re-election marketing campaign to his private accounts. From there, the ethics committee claims that Santos used the funds for varied private bills and mentioned his conduct “is beneath the dignity of the workplace, and has introduced extreme discredit upon the Home.”
Among the many objects bought by Santos with illegally obtained cash, the report mentioned, have been luxurious merchandise from high-end retailer Hermes, spa remedies and lodge stays. It additionally alleges that Santos used marketing campaign cash to pay for OnlyFans subscriptions in addition to for Botox remedy remedies.
Quickly after the publication of the report on Thursday, Santos took to X (previously Twitter) the place he denounced what he mentioned was a “biased report” that had gone to “extraordinary lengths to smear” him.
He added, nevertheless, that he’ll not be looking for re-election for a second time period in 2024 “as my household deserves higher than to be underneath the gun from the press on a regular basis.”
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