Consultant George Santos, a Republican from New York, arrives for a vote on the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023.
Al Drago | Bloomberg | Getty Photographs
Scandal-plagued Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., has been criminally charged by the Division of Justice, NBC Information reported Tuesday, citing sources conversant in the matter.
The character of the federal fees in opposition to the freshman congressman, who has admitted to mendacity about his background, was not instantly recognized. One supply informed NBC that Santos may give up in courtroom in Lengthy Island, New York, as early as Wednesday.
Santos’ lawyer and spokesperson didn’t instantly reply to CNBC’s requests for remark. A spokeswoman for the U.S. District Courtroom for the Jap District of New York declined to remark.
Information of the fees got here simply weeks after Santos introduced his 2024 reelection campaign.
Santos has been below scrutiny for a number of scandals which have outlined his transient time in Congress.
Earlier than being sworn into workplace, Santos admitted that he had “embellished” his schooling credentials and his work expertise. He denied committing any crimes. However he’s reportedly below multiple investigations as authorities at quite a few ranges of presidency probe his marketing campaign funds and different matters.
Rep. Mike Lawler, a fellow GOP freshman from New York, gave NBC a one-word reaction to the reported fees in opposition to Santos: “Resign.”
Lawler is the newest Republican to name for Santos’ resignation. However Santos has thus far rebuffed his critics, saying solely the voters of his district ought to determine whether or not he stays in Congress or not. Some polls have discovered that voters in Santos’ district view him overwhelmingly unfavorably throughout social gathering traces.
Home Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who has a really tight majority and might’t afford to lose greater than a handful of votes, has not joined his colleagues’ requires Santos to step down.
Requested about Santos’ authorized bother Tuesday, McCarthy stated, “I will take a look at the fees.”
A Home ethics panel in March appointed a subcommittee to research potential illegal exercise by Santos’ congressional marketing campaign. The subcommittee can be wanting into an allegation of sexual harassment made earlier this 12 months by Derek Myers, a journalist who says Santos groped him in his workplace whereas the 2 males have been alone going by way of constituent mail. Santos has denied the allegation.
CNN first reported the fees earlier Tuesday afternoon.
