Santos' Campaign Spending 'Atypical,' Included Huntington Rent: Report

LONG ISLAND, NY — As George Santos' life and finances continue to be scrutinized after the Long Island representative-elect admitted he lied about previous jobs and college degrees, his campaign spending is now drawing attention.

It's "atypical," one expert told The New York Times on Thursday.

Santos, 34, now under federal and Nassau County investigation for possible financial or other crimes, spent unusually large amounts on things like air travel and hotels, the Times analysis found. Santos spent $40,000 — over 13 times what another Long Island congressional candidate spent on air travel, the filings showed.

Santos' FEC filings contained a total of $11,000 in payments listed as "apartment rental for staff" to a company called Cleaner 123, with a Huntington house address where a neighbor told the Times that Santos himself lived for months. The filings show a rent and rent deposit was paid on July 5.

Santos told the New York Post on Monday he was "living with his sister in Huntington," but the Times reported that court documents, a doorman and neighbors pointed to her living in Elmhurst, Queens.

The Post reported on Thursday that a Whitestone landlord told them Santos and his sister left her rental after two years "three months" ago, leaving "a lot of damage."

Using campaign funds for personal expenditures like rent is prohibited by the FEC.

"If the expense would exist even in the absence of the candidacy or even if the officeholder were not in office, then the personal use ban applies," the rules advise.

Craig Holman, a consumer advocate, told the Times that Santos' spending was "atypical."

"Usually a congressional candidate tries spending as little as possible for their own accommodations and travel, because they need that money for campaign purposes," he said. "George Santos appears to be just living a lavish lifestyle for himself."

Santos also stayed in pricey hotels and ate at upscale restaurants, the Times said. He spent $14,000 at Il Bacco in Queens.

Joseph Murray, Santos' attorney, told the Times that the spending was routine:

"Campaign expenditures for staff members including travel, lodging, and meals are normal expenses of any competent campaign. The suggestion that the Santos campaign engaged in any irresponsible spending of campaign funds is just ludicrous," Murray said.

Patch's attempts to reach Santos and Murray have been unsuccessful.

The campaign's spending on travel is also an outlier, the Times noted.

Santos spent $30,000 on hotels, $40,000 on airfare and $14,000 on car services, while also retaining a campaign vehicle.

By comparison, fellow incoming Long Island Republican congressman Nick LaLota, who has called for an investigation into Santos, spent $900 on hotels, $3,000 on airfare and $900 on taxis during his campaign, the Times found in his filings.

The paper's dive into Santos' campaign filings also revealed more than 800 line items under $200, the cutoff expenditure that the FEC rules that candidates must keep receipts for. There were approximately 30 at $199.99.

“The $199.99 repeating expenses are screaming that he’s hiding something,” election lawyer Sarah Steiner speculated to the Post.

“It reminds me of the the people who deposit just under $10,000 repeatedly."

Santos himself loaned his campaign $700,000, but how he made the money is also in question, after multiple outlets failed to find any disclosed clients or website for his firm, the Devolder Organization.

On Friday, Newsday obtained an invitation from Santos' campaign to his Jan. 3 swearing-in ceremony which includes: "Roundtrip Bus from NY to DC, Luncheon, Swearing-In Ceremony, & Team Santos Tour of Capitol Grounds."

The invite lists two donation levels: $100 for the basic trip to see Santos be sworn in, and a VIP level for $500.

House ethics committee and FEC spokespeople declined to comment to Newsday about Santos' fundraiser, but House ethics guidelines prohibit using House rooms and offices for campaigning.

"House rooms and offices are not to be used for events that are campaign or political in nature, such as a meeting on campaign strategy, or a reception for campaign contributors. However, under long-standing Committee policy, when a Member is sworn in, the Member may hold a 'swearing-in' reception in a House office building that is paid for with campaign funds. A criminal statute [...] prohibits the solicitation of campaign contributions in any House building, room, or office."