NEW YORK — While the truth may not set U.S. Rep. George Santos free, a federal judge did Wednesday.
The disgraced first-term Long Island congressman pleaded not guilty to a 13-count federal indictment charging him with wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds and making false statements to Congress after a lengthy investigation.
He was released on $500,000 bond pending a June 30 court date after arriving for the hearing with papers in his hands, wearing a dark blue blazer, tie and khaki pants. Santos sat quietly during the court proceeding, with his attorney patting the defendant on his back.
A crowd of reporters gathered outside the courthouse to wait for Santos’ emergence.
Santos, 34, facing the laundry list of allegations, surrendered in the U.S. Federal Courthouse in Central Islip, Long Island, where he appeared to face the charges for the first time.
The allegations include a 2020 scheme to collect COVID-19-related unemployment funds while working as an investment firm director, a campaign finance fraud operation where he used donor money to buy designer clothes and pay his personal debts — and a string of untruths about his assets and income to the House of Representatives.
“This indictment seeks to hold Santos accountable for various alleged fraudulent schemes and brazen misrepresentations,” Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said.
“Taken together, the allegations in the indictment charge Santos with relying on repeated dishonesty and deception to ascend...
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