US Rep. George Santos repays himself $85K raised from lackluster reelection fundraising

NEW YORK — Embattled freshman U.S. Rep. George Santos, a Republican from New York charged with a number of monetary crimes, together with embezzling cash from his marketing campaign, withdrew $85,000 from his marketing campaign to assist repay lots of of hundreds of {dollars} he loaned himself to get elected in 2022.

Congressional marketing campaign data launched Friday present Santos raised a comparatively paltry $138,000 over the last three months for a reelection bid that’s anticipated to be one of many nation’s most-watched and hotly contested races in 2024.

The data present he spent practically $118,000, the majority of it to start repaying the greater than $700,000 he loaned himself for his profitable however stunning victory final 12 months.

The underwhelming fundraising suggests potential struggles in warding off a problem from fellow Republican Kellen Curry, an Afghanistan battle veteran and former J.P. Morgan banker, who raised greater than $200,000 and spent $36,000 throughout the identical interval.

In the meantime, the highest Democrat vying for New York’s Third Congressional District, Nassau County legislator Joshua Lafazan, has raised greater than $345,000, with a lot of it nonetheless within the financial institution.

Santos pleaded not responsible in Could to a 13-count federal indictment charging him with looting his marketing campaign coffers, fraudulently receiving unemployment and mendacity to Congress about being a millionaire. He faces as much as 20 years in jail if convicted.

A day later, he signed an settlement with Brazilian officers that allowed him to keep away from prosecution for forging two stolen checks in 2008.

Regardless of his authorized woes, Santos has vowed to battle to maintain his congressional seat, which principally encompasses the western suburbs of Lengthy Island but in addition straddles elements of the Queens borough in New York Metropolis.

Fellow Republicans in his residence district and elsewhere, together with some fellow GOP members within the state’s congressional delegation, have urged him to desert his reelection plans.

Complicating issues is whether or not congressional districts will once more should be redrawn, which may imply bother for some Republican incumbents if congressional strains are moved to make districts extra favorable to Democrats.

Santos introduced his reelection bid in April, regardless of a gentle drumbeat calling for his resignation due to his many deceptions throughout his final marketing campaign, together with mendacity about his training, Wall Road pedigree and different resume fabrications.

Severe questions on his funds additionally surfaced — together with the supply of what seems to be a shortly amassed fortune regardless of current monetary issues, together with evictions and owing hundreds in again hire.

Santos can be dealing with investigation by the Home Ethics Committee, in addition to by native authorities trying into whether or not he has violated any legal guidelines throughout his earlier marketing campaign.