Current:Home > FinanceProsecutors ask judge to deny George Santos’ bid to have some fraud charges dropped -Capitatum
Prosecutors ask judge to deny George Santos’ bid to have some fraud charges dropped
Surpassing View
Date:2025-04-07 04:45:03
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! (24)
Related
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- George Brown, drummer and co-founder of Kool & The Gang, dead at 74
- James scores season-high 37, hits go-ahead free throw as Lakers hold off Rockets 105-104
- James scores season-high 37, hits go-ahead free throw as Lakers hold off Rockets 105-104
- The Daily Money: Disney+ wants your dollars
- Trump receives endorsement from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott at border as both Republicans outline hardline immigration agenda
- James scores season-high 37, hits go-ahead free throw as Lakers hold off Rockets 105-104
- Ahead of Dutch elections, food banks highlight the cost-of-living crisis, a major campaign theme
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- F1 exceeds Las Vegas expectations as Max Verstappen wins competitive race
Ranking
- Chief beer officer for Yard House: A side gig that comes with a daily swig.
- NFL Pick 6 record: Cowboys' DaRon Bland ties mark, nears NFL history
- Man fatally shot by New Hampshire police following disturbance and shelter-in-place order
- School district and The Satanic Temple reach agreement in lawsuit over After School Satan Club
- Beware of giant spiders: Thousands of tarantulas to emerge in 3 states for mating season
- College football Week 12 grades: Auburn shells out big-time bucks to get its butt kicked
- Georgia deputy who shot absolved man had prior firing for excessive force. Critics blame the sheriff
- When landlords won't fix asthma triggers like mold, doctors call in the lawyers
Recommendation
Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
'I've been trying to do this for over 30 years' — Billy Porter sings on his terms
Canned seafood moves beyond tuna sandwiches in a pandemic trend that stuck
Tributes for Rosalynn Carter pour in from Washington, D.C., and around the country
Vance jokes he’s checking out his future VP plane while overlapping with Harris at Wisconsin airport
Syracuse fires football coach Dino Babers after eight seasons
Israel says second hostage Noa Marciano found dead near Gaza's Al-Shifa Hospital
Canned seafood moves beyond tuna sandwiches in a pandemic trend that stuck