George Santos news - live: New York Republican tells reporter federal charges are ‘news to me’

George Santos, the New York congressman who rose to prominence for a string of exaggerations , lies, and irregularities related to his personal background and campaign finances, has been charged with a series of federal offences.

The exact nature of the charges aren’t yet public and are under seal, but concern federal crimes, NBC News and CNN report.

The New York Republican has been under investigation by multiple bodies since being elected, including the House Ethics Committee, as well as the Federal Election Commission, and local and federal prosecutors.

Mr Santos could reportedly appear in court as soon as Wednesday.

Key Points

• George Santos hit with federal charges

• George Santos: Every lie disgraced Republican Congressman has been accused of making

• George Santos surprised by federal charges

• What has George Santos said about his many campaign exaggerations?

Kevin McCarthy dodges questions on Santos and Trump

11:30 , Rachel Sharp

Kevin McCarthy dodged questions about George Santos and Donald Trump – while claiming he would not “avoid” the question.

On Tuesday, the House Majority Leader was asked by a reporter to comment on the two prominent Republicans, after Mr Trump was found liable of sexual abuse and Mr Santos was indicted on federal charges.

“Are you going to continue to stand by George Santos now that he’s been indicted on federal charges? And do you stand by Trump after a jury found him liable for sexual abuse?” the reporter asked.

Mr McCarthy responded by saying: “I’m not going to avoid your question.”

He then skirted around the topic without giving a definitive answer.

“But as you know, I’ve been at the White House. I haven’t seen the indictment,” he said.

“But as you know, with George Santos, I did not put him on any committees.

“In America, we’ll just follow the same pattern we always have, right? If a person is indicted, they’re not on committees, they have the right to vote. But they have to go to trial.”

If Mr Santos is found guilty, however, he might have to resign, he said.

When pressed about Mr Trump, Mr McCarthy then claimed he had been in “meetings” so was unaware of what was going on.

“I — I don’t know. I’ve been in meetings,” he said.

George Santos claims he is unaware of charges

11:10 , Rachel Sharp

George Santos, the New York congressman who rose to prominence for a string of exaggerations , lies, and irregularities related to his personal background and campaign finances, has been hit with a series of federal charges.

The exact nature of the charges aren’t yet public and remain under seal but they concern federal crimes, NBC News and CNN report.

When reached for comment about the news on Tuesday, Mr Santos claimed he was unaware of the charges.

“This is news to me,” he told The Associated Press.

“You’re the first to call me about this.”

George Santos and the fascinating psychology of compulsive liars

10:51 , Josh Marcus

Anyone who’s taken a passing look at the news lately knows it’s been a bad season for George Santos. When the 34-year-old representative from New York’s 3rd congressional district flipped the seat in the November midterms, it was celebrated by Republicans as a rare and significant victory. This was a once-safe Democratic seat, where people voted for Joe Biden by a double-digit margin in 2020. How did Santos do it? As his house of cards comes tumbling down, the answer seems to be: By fictionalizing himself into the perfect candidate.

Santos now stands accused of lying about the entire contents of his résumé, including where he went to college, and even where he went to high school; whether he is married to a man or a woman (he spoke of a husband in his campaign bio, but records only appear to show a marriage and divorce to a woman); how his mother died (not in 9/11, it turns out); whether his grandmother was in the Holocaust and indeed whether any of his family is actually Jewish (it appears they are all actually Brazilian Catholics); and where his money came from. He even seems to have claimed he was running an imaginary animal charity. These alleged lies range from the very serious to the comically absurd, from the personal to the professional, and from the clearly self-serving to the head-scratchingly strange. There is a feeling of compulsion to them.

Political analysts might have a lot to say about the Santos case — but what do psychologists say about people who lie as much as this particular congressman appears to have done?

Read the full story from Holly Baxter.

George Santos and the fascinating psychology of compulsive liars

Santo’s ex-aide says he was working as FBI informant

10:30 , Rachel Sharp

Derek Myers, a former aide for the congressman, tweeted that he had been working as a “confidential informant and human asset” for the FBI.

“I can publicly confirm that during my brief time in the Congressman’s office I had met secretly with agents from @FBI in an effort to work as a confidential informant and human asset against the Congressman during my course of employment in his office. I cannot go into further detail at this time,” he tweeted on Tuesday, as news broke that Mr Santos’ is facing criminal charges.

Mr Myers, a reporter, previously worked in Mr Santos’ office before he said he was fired by the freshman congressman.

In February, he leaked audio that was reportedly recorded in the congressional office of Mr Santos without the congressman or his staff’s permission toTalking Points Memo.

George Santos to appear in court as soon as today on federal charges

10:10 , Rachel Sharp

George Santos, the New York congressman who rose to prominence for a string of exaggerations , lies, and irregularities related to his personal background and campaign finances, has been hit with a series of federal charges.

The exact nature of the charges aren’t yet public and remain under seal but they concern federal crimes, NBC News and CNN report.

The New York Republican has been under investigation by multiple bodies since being elected, including the House Ethics Committee, as well as the Federal Election Commission, and local and federal prosecutors.

Mr Santos could reportedly appear in federal court in New York’s eastern district as soon as Wednesday.

WATCH: How comedians imitated George Santos

09:51 , Josh Marcus

George Santos, with his mix of wild claims about his life and his distinctive sweater-and-suit look, proved irresistible as a target for late-night comedians.

Here’s our roundup of some of the best impersonations.

A day full of dramatic charges

08:51 , Josh Marcus

Tuesday saw two high-profile New York Republicans face serious charges in court.

Earlier in the day, Donald Trump was found liable for sexually abusing writer E Jean Carroll.

Donald Trump found liable for sexual abuse in E Jean Carroll trial

Then, freshman congressman George Santos was hit with federal charges, likely related to his campaign finances.

Prosecutors file criminal charges against New York congressman George Santos

George Santos’s lies have hurt him in the past

07:51 , Josh Marcus

The New York rep has previously faced intense blowback for his false claims of having Jewish heritage.

Earlier this year, Democrats in New York slammed the GOP representative after he took to the House floor to deliver a speech marking Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The embattled Republican congressman paid tribute to victims and survivors of the Nazi-era genocide and condemned antisemitism.

Andrew Feinberg had the story.

New York Democrats slam George Santos after Holocaust Remembrance Day speech

George Santos’s other set of criminal charges (in Brazil)

06:51 , Josh Marcus

Embattled New York Representative George Santos reached an agreement to settle a years-old criminal case against him in Brazil earlier this year, according to a report from CNN.

Mr Santos reportedly reached the deal with Brazilian prosecutors, under which he will formally confess to check fraud and pay restitution.

The freshman GOP lawmaker is accused of stealing a checkbook from an elderly person who his mother was caring for in 2010. He later admitted to forging checks from that checkbook to purchase items, including clothing and shoes.

A petition from his Brazilian attorney asks to arrange a non-prosecution agreement, citing Mr Santos’ employment as a US lawmaker and calling him “re-socialised”.

Andrew Feinberg has the details for The Independent.

George Santos accepts deal in Brazilian check fraud case

George Santos decided in March to seek reelection

05:51 , Josh Marcus

US Rep George Santos filed paperwork earlier this year indicating his intent to run for reelection, even as he faces calls to resign amid ongoing criminal and ethics investigations into lies he told while running for office.

The filing with the Federal Election Commission does not necessarily mean that Santos will run for a second term, but it allows his campaign committees to continue raising money, some of which could be used to pay future legal bills. Money he raises could also be used to repay more than $700,000 that he claimed to have loaned his campaign.

Get all the details in our full story.

George Santos files paperwork for reelection despite months of mounting scandals

The strange scandal of George Santos and a dying dog

04:51 , Josh Marcus

The FBI is investigating claims that Rep George Santos raised money to pay for surgery for a Navy veteran’s dying dog before allegedly disappearing with the money.

Richard Osthoff says that he was contacted by two federal agents on Wednesday on behalf of the US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York, according to POLITICO.

Graeme Massie has the story.

FBI interviews veteran who says George Santos took money intended for dying dog

George Santos: From congressional ‘imposter’ to federal charges

03:51 , Josh Marcus

The Independent has been tracking the strange career of George Santos since the very start.

Earlier this year, Richard Hall traveled to the New York Republican’s district to find the real man behind the bizarre lies.

Watch “The Imposter in Congress” below.

ICYMI: Federal prosecutors file criminal charges against New York congressman George Santos

02:51 , Josh Marcus

Federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against George Santos, the Republican congressman whose campaign was littered with falsehoods about his past.

Mr Santos is expected to appear on Wednesday at a federal court in New York’s Eastern District, where the charges have been filed, the network reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter. CNN first reported on the charges against Mr Santos. Multiple news organisations confirmed the report, including the Associated Press, NBC News and The Wall Street Journal.

The exact charges have not yet been revealed, but Mr Santos was reportedly under investigation by the Justice Department for his campaign finances.

The charges represent a rapid rise and fall for a man his own constituents decried as an “imposter.”

Richard Hall reports for The Independent.

Prosecutors file criminal charges against New York congressman George Santos

Calls grow from New York Democrats for George Santos to resign

01:51 , Josh Marcus

Unsurprisingly, Democrats on Capitol Hill from the New York delegation are renewing their calls for George Santos to resign from Congress, after the Long Island Republican was reportedly charged with federal crimes on Tuesday.

“I believe that Representative Santos should have resigned before he was even sworn-in,” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told CBS News. “I think that the pattern of dishonesty here is very clear”

“Now that Santos has been indicted, it is incumbent on Speaker Kevin McCarthy to eliminate the stain of Santos on this hallowed institution by removing him from Congress immediately,” Rep Dan Goldman added in an interview with the network. “We cannot wait any longer.”

Will George Santos resign if he’s found guilty?

01:31 , Josh Marcus

House Leadership certainly wants that to be the case.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told CNN he would ask his fellow Republican to give up his seat if he’s convicted on federal charges.

“Just like we had before with Jeff Fortenberry, he had the same ability, I removed him from committees, but he was found guilty and then I told him he needed to resign,” the GOP leader said. “That is my policy and principles on this.”

Mr Fortenberry, a former Nebraska rep, resigned in 2022 after being convicted of lying to federal officials about an illegal $30,000 foreign contribution to his campaign.

Nebraska US Rep. Fortenberry found guilty in campaign probe

Federal charges may finally answer the big question about George Santos: How did he earn so much money?

01:11 , Josh Marcus

George Santos has admitted to certain lies, such as falsely claiming Jewish ancestry, and the federal charges reportedly filed against him on Tuesday may answer another of the big question marks in his background: How did he earn all that money?

Between 2014 and 2017, the New York Republican was the subject of three eviction proceedings in Queens for unpaid rent.

On a 2020 financial document, he listed an annual income of $55,000.

Just a few years later, when he was running for Congress, Mr Santos appeared to be flushed with cash.

He claimed that his company, Devolder Organization, paid him a $750,000 salary in each of the last two years, as well as another $1m to $5m in dividents, according to the AP.

Not bad for a company that was incorporated in 2021.

The apparent windfall caught the eye of investigators when Mr Santos lent his campaign and political action committee more than $750,000.

Will George Santos have to leave office if he’s convicted?

Wednesday 10 May 2023 00:51 , Josh Marcus

Not necessarily.

People under criminal indictment or even those convicted of crimes can still serve in Congress, unless they commit treason-level offences outlined in the 14th Amendment, CNN reports.

The same goes for the White House. Candidates can even run from inside prison.

Such considerations may be on the mind of Donald Trump, who was found liable on Tuesday for sexually abusing and defaming writer E Jean Carroll, and faces 34 felony charges in New York for a hush money scheme.

George Santos surprised by federal charges

Wednesday 10 May 2023 00:31 , Josh Marcus

Congressman George Santos was apparently shocked to learn he was the subject of federal charges, which were reportedly filed under seal on Tuesday.

“This is news to me,” the Long Island Republican told the Associated Press.

“You’re the first to call me about this,” he added.

Our DC bureau chief on the ‘funniest outcome’ in the Santos case

Tuesday 9 May 2023 23:44 , Josh Marcus

George Santos’s rise in politics has not been without comedy, but if the Long Island Republican is succesfully charged with federal crimes, it could yield a particularly slapstick result, according to Independent Washington bureau chief Eric Garcia.

What has George Santos said about his many campaign exaggerations?

Tuesday 9 May 2023 23:34 , Josh Marcus

For a man accused of telling numerous lies, and reportedly charged on Tuesday with federal crimes, Representative George Santos has spent recent months apparently unbothered.

In April, he said he has a “clean conscience.”

Read John Bowden’s full report on the Long Island Republican’s questionable defence.

George Santos insists he has a ‘clean conscience’ after lying about background

WATCH: The Independent’s documentary on George Santos’s many lies

Tuesday 9 May 2023 23:24 , Josh Marcus

George Santos made waves on the political scene of Washington D.C. by flipping New York’s 3rd congressional district seat in the November midterms, a once reliable Democratic seat. But, soon, reports emerged that many things in his résumé and the life story told to the public wasn’t all strictly true. Santos is refusing to stand aside as the controversy mounts but how long can that position hold?

Senior US Correspondent Richard Hall visited Long Island and Nassau county to find out the truth, trying to track down the real George Santos.

Watch the full documentary here.

The imposter in Congress | On The Ground

George Santos: Every lie disgraced Republican Congressman has been accused of making

Tuesday 9 May 2023 23:14 , Josh Marcus

It can be difficult keeping up with the list of fictions that George Santos has been accused of telling, admitted telling, or merely been caught spinning red-handed following a contradictory statement.

But, do not fret: The Independent is here, and we’re keeping track of the whole list of lies even as it continues to grow — both in number and in the sheer scale of the humiliation that it presents for not just Mr Santos, who remains adamant that he will serve two years in office as representative for New York’s third district, but for the Republican House caucus as a whole.

Read our full round-up of the many scandals of George Santos.

Every lie George Santos has been accused of making

Breaking news: George Santos hit with federal charges

Tuesday 9 May 2023 23:09 , Josh Marcus

Federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against George Santos, the Republican congressman whose campaign was littered with falsehoods about his past, CNN reported.

Mr Santos is expected to appear on Wednesday at a federal court in New York’s Eastern District, where the charges have been filed, the network reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter.

The Independent contacted the Eastern District for comment.

The exact charges have not yet been revealed, but the Washington Post previously reported that the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section was investigating Mr Santos — specifically, his campaign finances.

Richard Hall is following the story for The Independent.

Prosecutors file criminal charges against New York congressman George Santos: report