GOP Rep. Santos reportedly discussing plea deal with prosecutors

The New York Republican has come under fire for a litany of false statements made while on campaign, as well as myriad shady enterprises with which he has evidently been involved.

By Ben Whedon

Published: September 6, 2023 6:40pm

New York Republican Rep. George Santos and a former campaign aide are reportedly discussing plea agreements with federal prosecutors.

Santos has pleaded not guilty to 13 federal charges, among them wire fraud, money laundering, and stealing public funds. He is currently free on $500,000 bond and may travel between New York and Washington, D.C., to fulfill his duties.

A joint Wednesday filing from Santos and the Eastern District of New York U.S. Attorney's Office requests that the court delay a planned October hearing to provide more time for Santos's team to review materials and discuss "paths forward" with prosecutors, Fox News reported.

The New York Republican has come under fire for a litany of false statements made while on campaign, as well as myriad dubious enterprises with which he has evidently been involved. Santos has admitted that he never worked for Goldman Sachs and Citigroup as he originally claimed, but rather for a third firm, LinkBridge, that he says did business with both.

He has further denied allegations that he performed as a drag queen in Brazil, his past claims that his family fled Nazi Germany to escape the Holocaust have come under scrutiny, and he recently settled a criminal case in Brazil involving stolen checks.

Santos has resisted calls to resign and is seeking reelection in 2024. He has further insinuated that his federal indictments are politically motivated, coopting former President Donald Trump's "witch hunt" label for the prosecutions he himself battles.

Samuel Miele, a former Santos campaign aide whom the Republican fired for allegedly using an alias to solicit donations, also appears to be negotiating for a plea. Prosecutors on Tuesday also sought a delay "to accommodate ongoing discovery review and plea negotiations," per Fox.

Miele is accused of impersonating Dan Meyer, the-then chief of staff to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, to secure donations for Santos. He allegedly used a false email address to trick at least 12 donors. He has pleaded not guilty.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.