CNN
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Brazilian law enforcement officials are likely to press charges against Rep. George Santos, a Republican from New York, as he formally took over a role in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday under a cloud of suspicion over his questionable resume. will revive fraud charges. The New York Times reported Monday.
According to The Times, prosecutors said they would seek a “formal response” from Santos in connection with a checkbook stolen in 2008.
Authorities that confirmed Santos’ whereabouts plan to make a formal request to the Department of Justice to notify them of the charges, Natalie Ducoulombier, a spokesperson for the Rio de Janeiro Public Prosecutor’s Office, told The Times.
CNN has reached out to Santos’ attorney for comment.
The Times, citing court records it reviewed, said the criminal case stemmed from Santos’ visit to a small clothing store in the Rio de Janeiro suburb of Niteroi. pseudonym.
CNN previously confirmed Report from the Times Santos was indicted in a Brazilian court last month on charges of embezzlement in 2011, according to court records from Rio de Janeiro. However, according to 2013 court records, the charges were archived after a court subpoena was not answered and Santos was unable to be located.
In an interview with the New York Post last week, Santos denied being charged with a crime in Brazil, stating: Absolutely not. it didn’t happen.
Santos reversed the seats held by the Democrats and helped the Republicans win a narrow House majority. And he is scheduled to take office on Tuesday.
After the New York Times first revealed on Dec. 19 that Santos’ biography appeared to be partly fictional, the New York Republican said he lied about parts of his resume. Admitted.
CNN confirmed details of reports about Santos’ college education and career, including allegations that he was forced to drop out of a New York City private school when his family’s real estate fortunes languished, and that Santos was on behalf of Goldman Sachs. Revealing more falsehoods from Santos, including claims that he was a human being. Top financial conference.
According to CNN’s KFile, Santos’ claims that his grandparents fled the Holocaust as Ukrainian Jewish refugees and that his mother died while in the South Tower during 9/11 were also under scrutiny. There is
In interviews with WABC Radio and the New York Post on December 26, Santos said he had lied about attending Baruch College and New York University and making false statements about his employment at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup. He admitted, but said he still intended to work in Congress at the time.
Two days later, CNN reported that the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York had opened a financial probe into Santos. Santos has been questioned for taking out assets and loans totaling more than $700,000 to help him run for president in 2022.
The same day, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office announced that it was also investigating a fabrication from Santos.
Nassau County District Attorney Ann Donnelly said at the time, “No one is breaking the law. If a crime is committed in this county, we will prosecute.”
The district attorney’s office did not identify any fabrications under investigation, and the federal attorney’s office for the Eastern District of New York declined to comment.
CNN has reached out to Santos officials for comment on the investigation.
Santos’ FEC report contains many outrageous expenses, including exorbitant air travel and hotel expenses, and spending a penny below what the FEC requires campaigns to keep receipts for.
“Staff members’ campaign costs, including travel, lodging and food, are the normal expenses of an effective campaign. Any suggestion that the Santos campaign is involved in the illegal expenditure of campaign funds is irresponsible at best,” it said. Santos attorney Joe Murray said in a statement to CNN on Saturday.
