Current:Home > ScamsProsecutors ask judge to deny George Santos’ bid to have some fraud charges dropped-InfoLens
Prosecutors ask judge to deny George Santos’ bid to have some fraud charges dropped
View Date:2024-12-23 14:06:20
NEW YORK (AP) — Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to reject former U.S. Rep. George Santos ’ bid to have some of the fraud charges against him dropped as his trial approaches.
The New York Republican, who last year became only the sixth lawmaker in history to be expelled from the U.S. House of Representatives, has requested that a judge dismiss three of the 23 charges against him.
Santos faces a slew of criminal charges, including allegations that he defrauded campaign donors, lied to Congress about his wealth, received unemployment benefits while employed, and used campaign contributions to pay for personal expenses like designer clothing. He pleaded not guilty to a revised indictment in October.
But in court filings last month, Santos’ lawyers argued that the aggravated identity theft charges should be dropped because he has not been accused of obtaining credit card information from donors unlawfully, but simply for overcharging them.
“All of the credit cards were voluntarily sent to Santos’ campaign and his campaign was authorized to charge the cards for a specified amount,” defense lawyers wrote in their motion to dismiss the charges.
Prosecutors, in legal filings on Friday, dismissed Santos’ request as “meritless.”
They said they’ll show at trial how he used the identities of his donors to fraudulently and deceptively evade federal campaign finance laws.
“Santos did not merely ‘use’ credit card information that he properly possessed; he abused it, with specific intent to defraud, to increase the amount of money he had appeared to raise as a candidate for the House,” prosecutors argued in their lengthy filing. “Nor did he merely ‘use’ names in entering fraudulent charges on his victims’ credit cards; he misused them deceitfully, with specific intent to mask, conceal, and prolong his unlawful activities.”
Lawyers for Santos didn’t respond to an email seeking comment Monday. He is slated to go on trial in September and isn’t due back in federal court on Long Island until August.
In April, he dropped his longshot bid to return to Congress as an independent in the 1st Congressional District on Long Island.
veryGood! (76272)
Related
- Man Found Dead in Tanning Bed at Planet Fitness Gym After 3 Days
- Taiwan factory fire death toll rises to 9 after 2 more bodies found
- Brian Austin Green and Sharna Burgess Are Engaged: You’ll Be Dancing Over Her Stunning Diamond Ring
- As Russia hits Ukraine's energy facilities with a deadly missile attack, fear mounts over nuclear plants
- A growing and aging population is forcing Texas counties to seek state EMS funding
- National Cathedral unveils racial justice-themed windows, replacing Confederate ones
- National Cathedral replaces windows honoring Confederacy with stained-glass homage to racial justice
- Tropical Storm Ophelia barrels across North Carolina with heavy rain and strong winds
- Deommodore Lenoir contract details: 49ers ink DB to $92 million extension
- Samples of asteroid Bennu are coming to Earth Sunday. Could the whole thing be next?
Ranking
- Joel Embiid injury, suspension update: When is 76ers star's NBA season debut?
- Brewers 1B Rowdy Tellez pitches final outs for Brewers postseason clinch game
- Are you Latino if you can't speak Spanish? Here's what Latinos say
- Giorgio Napolitano, former Italian president and first ex-Communist in that post, has died at 98
- Japan to resume V-22 flights after inquiry finds pilot error caused accident
- A study of this champion's heart helped prove the benefits of exercise
- Why Everyone's Buying These 11 Must-Have Birthday Gifts For Libras
- Home explosion in West Milford, New Jersey, leaves 5 hospitalized
Recommendation
-
Jerry Jones lashes out at question about sun's glare at AT&T Stadium after Cowboys' loss
-
Phil Knight, Terrell Owens and more show out for Deion Sanders and Colorado
-
California governor vetoes bill requiring custody courts to weigh affirmation of gender identity
-
Africa’s rhino population rebounds for 1st time in a decade, new figures show
-
Will Trump’s hush money conviction stand? A judge will rule on the president-elect’s immunity claim
-
Justin Fields' surprising admission on Bears' coaches cranks up pressure on entire franchise
-
California bill to have humans drivers ride in autonomous trucks is vetoed by governor
-
Ukraine targets key Crimean city a day after striking the Russian navy headquarters