The Swamp is alive and well in Washington, D.C. But one politician went too far.
And a U.S. Congressman faces jail time for this sickening crime.
Indicted Long Island Rep. George Santos (R-NY) would rather go to jail than identify the two persons who cosigned his $500,000 bond last month, allowing him to remain free.
Attorney Joseph Murray urged a judge Monday to reject a request by news outlets for the names of Santos’ mysterious bond suretors, or guarantors, claiming that naming them publicly could cause them “great distress,” including job losses and even bodily danger.
“My client would rather surrender to pretrial detainment than subject these suretors to what will inevitably come,” Murray wrote in a letter to US Magistrate Judge Anne Shields.
Santos, 34, pled not guilty last month to a 13-count federal indictment charging him of misappropriating $50,000 in campaign funds for personal expenses, defrauding donors, lying to Congress about his salary, and defrauding COVID unemployment payments.
The notoriously dishonest politician, known for fabricating complex lies about his family background, schooling, and employment history, was released on bond immediately following the May 10 hearing.
Santos has so far defied bipartisan calls to quit and has stated that he will run for re-election in 2024 despite the indictment, which he has called a “witch hunt.”
11 news organizations petitioned the judge in late May to identify the two people who guaranteed Santos’ pretrial release, citing a “compelling public interest in maintaining the greatest transparency possible in these proceedings.”
Murray asked the judge on Monday to give Santos’ guarantors time to withdraw as cosigners if she chose to reveal their identities.
Murray stated in the petition that he, Santos, and Santos’ staff have received threatening and abusive phone calls and messages, including death threats.
The lawyer also stated that he received a call on Friday asking, “Who paid Santos’ bond?” and that he is concerned that Santos’ opponents “are just waiting to pounce” on those who made his release possible.
“We truly fear for their health, safety and well-being,” Murray wrote.
The request has yet to be reviewed by federal prosecutors.
Separately, on May 16, the House Ethics Committee wrote to Santos, requesting that he name the people who cosigned his bond.
Murray stated that Santos had three financially responsible cosigners lined up as suretors, but one backed out and the other chose to skip the arraignment, prompting them to make “other confidential arrangements” to assure the congressman’s release.
Santos’ bond is unsecured, which means that none of his cosigners had to put up any money up front.
They could be required to pay the entire $500,000 if the Republican congressman fails to comply with his release conditions or fails to appear in court.
Santos, who represents sections of Queens and Long Island, must limit his travel to the tri-state area and Washington, DC, unless special authorization is granted. He was also forced to hand over his passport.
Santos is scheduled to appear in court again on June 30. If convicted of the most serious charges, he may face up to 20 years in prison.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
