Rep. George Santos was a “funnel” for illegal campaign money, watchdog claims

Sketchy Long Island Rep. George Santos misused campaign funds for personal expenses – and likely colluded with corporations, foreign governments, or others to illegally channel money towards his successful 2022 House bid, the Liberal watchdog group accused of filing a complaint with the Federal Election Commission over Monday.

Campania Legal Center submission claimed that Santos concealed the true source of his campaign money by using mysterious funding for travel, luxury hotels and expensive meals.

The group said dozens Santos’ campaign expenses, which totaled $199.99. – a penny below the $200 threshold for FEC detailing – were “statistically implausible” and indicated recently sworn in GOP MP “deliberately falsified” his reports.

The CLC noted that expenses such as paying $199.99 to the W Hotel South Beach for a “hotel stay” on October 13 seemed fabricated, as the cheapest hotel room in Miami cost over $700.

He also pointed out that the $199.99 listed campaign spending on Stationery at nine retailers including Best Buy, Staples, Walgreens, Target, and Walmart was “highly unlikely.”

Specifically, the group noted that Santos claimed to have spent $199.99 at Il Bacco restaurant in Queens seven times, including twice on the same day in November 2021, as well as “5 separate instances with Uber: 4 a separate case with Delta Airlines; and 3 times at Best Buy.”

“The campaign reported an astounding 40 payouts ranging from $199 to $200, including 37 payouts of exactly $199.99… In fact, after eliminating earmarked contributions and reimbursing contributions, the Santos campaign reported about the same number of payouts of $199.99 dollars (37 out of 75), like all other committees. together,” the document says.

The statement also noted that Santos’ $13,500 rent for the “Staff Apartment Rental” was actually paid to pay for the Huntington housing he lived in, which the CLC called “a flagrant violation of the law.”

Santos, 34, who confessed to lying last month about his education, work history, religion and details of his personal lifewas already under federal investigation for lending over $700,000 to his 2022 campaign despite announcing a salary of just $55,000 back in 2020.

The CLC argued that Santos’ claims that he made millions in 2021 and 2002 from his “alleged” consulting business Devolder Organization LLC were “vague,
unconfirmed and untrustworthy in light of his many previous lies” and accused the business of being a front for illegal shell donors.

The CLC added that Santos did not report any client payments in excess of $5,000 and said it was “highly unlikely” that Devolder would make such a windfall.

“Instead, it is much more likely that after failing to win his 2020 congressional bid, Santos and other unknowns devised a scheme to covertly and illegally channel money into his 2022 campaign,” the complaint reads. “The hidden true source of the $705,000 donation to Santos’ campaign could be a corporation or a foreign national — both of whom are expressly prohibited from donating to federal candidates — or one or more persons who would be prohibited from making such large sums.”

“Voters deserve the truth. They have a right to know who is spending money to influence their vote and their government, and they have a right to know how candidates fighting for their vote are spending that money,” said Adav Noti, senior vice president and legal director of the campaign’s legal center. says in the statement.

“George Santos has lied to voters about many things, but while lying about your past may not be illegal, lying to voters about your campaign funding and spending is a serious violation of federal law. This is what we are asking the FEC to investigate.”

Santos’ “numerous fabrications” have already been investigated by the Nassau District Attorney’s office and federal prosecutors after the MP admitted to The Post on Dec. 26 that he had lied about attending college and private high school and working for Wall Street firms. .

BRIGIT STELZER

BRIGIT STELZER

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BRIGIT STELZER

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Santos also falsely claimed to be Jewish and lied about both his grandparents escaping the Holocaust and his mother, who was killed in the 9/11 attacks.

An openly gay Republican who was once married to a woman has not been publicly seen with her alleged husband, and has also falsely claimed to be a real estate mogul. In reality, Santos had no property, and one day in 2017, he paid a five-figure sum to a Queens landlord.

The freshman congressman also faces financial fraud charges in Brazil involving the use of a stolen checkbook and an assumed name in 2008. according to The New York Times, which first exposed his shocking web of lies.

An investigation into the CLC’s claims must be approved by four of the six FEC commissioners – three Democrats and three Republicans. The agency is responsible for civil enforcement of campaign finance laws, and violators are punished with heavy fines.

On his Web siteThe FEC stated that the commission “reviews every complaint filed” but that “enforcement matters remain confidential until they are resolved.”

Santos did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Post.