A federal judge in New York is expected Thursday to reveal the names of two key people who helped secure a $500,000 bond release for Rep. George Santos (R-NY), who is currently facing trial for wire fraud, a scheme to defraud public programs, and other various charges.
The process of revealing these bond guarantors has taken weeks of fraught litigation because, noted The Guardian, Santos and his attorneys have fiercely resisted it.
"Santos tried to stop the process, arguing disclosure could threaten the guarantors’ safety amid a 'media frenzy' and 'hateful attacks,'" reported Martin Pengelly. "In a court filing, Santos’s lawyer said: 'Given the political temperature in this country and acts of political violence that occur, the privacy interests of these suretors are far more concerning, especially considering their ages and respective employment.' The lawyer also said Santos had 'essentially publicly revealed' that the guarantors were 'family members and not lobbyists, donors or others seeking to exert influence over the defendant.'"
The claim that the bond guarantors are family members, though, meshes oddly with Santos' additional claim that revealing their identity could cause them to withdraw the bond, forcing him back into custody.
Santos has been buried in scandal since being elected last year, as reports have revealed he lied about almost every aspect of his life and credentials on the campaign trail, from where he went to school, to where he worked, to claims that he is part Jewish. Santos also has numerous oddities on his campaign finance reports that could indicate illegal activity, including lists of donors who don't appear to exist.
Federal prosecutors allege that, among other things, Santos lied to donors in order to raise money, and falsely claimed unemployment money while not being unemployed. He has admitted to lying about various credentials and life events in his campaign, but denies all criminal charges against him and has refused calls from his own party to resign
