Politics & Government
Federal Prosecutors Investigating George Santos' Finances: Report
A source told NBC News that the U.S. attorney's Eastern District office has opened a formal investigation into the rep.-elect's campaign.
LONG ISLAND, NY — Federal prosecutors at the Eastern District U.S. attorney's office have formally opened an investigation into incoming LI congressman George Santos, NBC News reported Thursday afternoon.
The announcement marks the second official investigation into the 34-year-old Republican from Queens, after Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly confirmed that her office opened an investigation on Wednesday.
TheQueens district attorney's office is also looking into potential criminal offenses, a spokesperson told ABC 7 News on Thursday.
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Federal prosecutors are focusing on Santos' finances and congressional filings, looking into possible illegal campaign funding, NBC reported, citing a law enforcement source.
Santos admitted to several lies he made about his work and job history while campaigning for the 3rd District seat, after The New York Times kicked off media investigations into the veracity of his resume claims last week. Questions remain about his 2020 and 2022 congressional financial filings, and a $700,000 loan Santos made to his own campaign.
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On Wednesday night, Santos confirmed four clients of his firm, the mysterious Devolder Organization, to the Daily Beast, after the Times and other sources questioned why he had not disclosed any clients on his filings. The four client companies are all connected to donors to Santos' own campaign, the Daily Beast discovered.
In 2020, Santos' filings claimed a $55,000 salary and no assets; in 2022 Santos claimed between $3 and 11 million in total assets. He has maintained the millions all came from the Devolder Organization, which he's variously described as a family fund, a capitol introduction business and a specialty consulting business.
On Wednesday, CBS reported that the New York U.S. attorney's office was "looking into" Santos, but their sources stopped short of calling it a formal investigation.
Patch has reached out to Santos and his attorney for comment several times without a response.
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