NEW YORK — Rep. George Santos surrendered to federal authorities Wednesday morning after being charged with wire fraud, money laundering and theft of public funds.
In a 13-count indictment, federal prosecutors accused Santos, a first-term Republican congressman from New York, of fraudulently obtaining unemployment benefits, using campaign contributions to pay down personal debts and purchase designer clothing and lying to the House of Representatives about his financial condition.
“This indictment seeks to hold Santos accountable for various alleged fraudulent schemes and brazen misrepresentations,” Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said in a statement. “Taken together, the allegations in the indictment charge Santos with relying on repeated dishonesty and deception to ascend to the halls of Congress and enrich himself.
Santos is set to have an initial court appearance Wednesday at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, N.Y.
