Father, aunt helped indicted US Representative George Santos post bail
2023.06.22 13:50
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: U.S. Rep. George Santos (R-NY) heads to the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote on a Republican motion to refer a Democratic-sponsored resolution to expel Santos from the House to the House Ethics Committee instead of an immediate
By Jonathan Stempel
NEW YORK (Reuters) -George Santos’s father and aunt were identified on Thursday as the guarantors of the indicted U.S. representative’s $500,000 bail, after Santos fought unsuccessfully to keep them anonymous.
Gercino dos Santos and Elma Preven agreed to guarantee Santos’ bail, after the first-term New York congressman pleaded not guilty last month to 13 criminal charges including fraud, money laundering and theft of public funds.
George Santos and his lawyer had argued that releasing the names might subject his guarantors to the “media frenzy and hateful attacks” that the Republican congressman and his staff faced after news of his indictment surfaced on May 9.
At least 11 media organizations had opposed anonymity for the guarantors, citing the public interest.
The House of Representatives’ Ethics Committee also wanted the names, to determine whether Santos violated congressional rules on gifts.
U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert in Central Islip, New York on Tuesday rejected Santos’ request that the names be kept under wraps, upholding a magistrate judge’s earlier ruling.
Santos, 34, had expressed a willingness to go to jail rather than release the names.
Before being indicted, Santos became a lightning rod for criticism, with many Republican lawmakers calling for his resignation, after reports said he lied about much of his personal and professional background.
Santos has since admitted to fabricating large parts of his biography. He announced in April that he would seek reelection in November 2024.
