Current:Home > StocksJudge turns down ex-Rep. George Santos’ request to nix some charges ahead of fraud trial -Triumph Financial Guides
Judge turns down ex-Rep. George Santos’ request to nix some charges ahead of fraud trial
View
Date:2025-04-18 20:48:07
NEW YORK (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. George Santos on Friday lost a bid to get rid of part of the criminal case against him as he heads toward trial on charges that include defrauding campaign donors.
U.S. District Joanna Seybert turned down Santos’ request to dismiss charges of aggravated identity theft and theft of public money — in all, three of the 23 charges against the New York Republican.
Prosecutors and Santos’ lawyers declined to comment.
Prosecutors have accused Santos of a range of crimes — among them lying to Congress about his wealth, collecting unemployment benefits while actually working, and using campaign contributions to pay for such personal expenses as designer clothing. He pleaded not guilty to a revised indictment in October.
The aggravated identity theft charges pertain to allegations that Santos used campaign donors’ credit card information to make repeated contributions they hadn’t authorized. Prosecutors say he also tried to hide the true source of the money — and evade campaign contribution limits — by listing the donations as coming from some of his relatives and associates, without their assent.
Santos’ lawyers argued in court filings that the aggravated identity theft charges were invalid because, in the defense’s view, the allegations amounted only to overcharging credit card accounts that had been willingly provided to him.
Prosecutors disputed that argument. They said in filings that Santos hadn’t just “used” the credit card information but “abused it, with specific intent to defraud” in order to make his campaign coffers look fuller.
The theft of public funds charge relates to the alleged unemployment fraud.
Santos’ lawyers said the charge improperly combined multiple alleged criminal schemes and transactions. Courts have said in other cases that such combination isn’t allowed for various reasons, including the possibility that jurors could convict on the charge while believing a defendant guilty of only part of it.
Prosecutors in Santos’ case said the theft of public funds charge against him alleges “a single continuing scheme.”
The former Congress member is slated to go on trial in September in Central Islip, on New York’s Long Island.
In April, he dropped his longshot bid to return to Congress as an independent in New York’s 1st Congressional District, on Long Island.
veryGood! (3294)
Related
- Sam Taylor
- Football is king: NFL dominates television viewing in 2023
- Some fans call Beyoncé 'Mother': Here's how she celebrates motherhood on and off stage
- From Week 1 to 18, see how NFL power rankings have changed and this weekend's schedule
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- Justice Department sues Texas over state's new border security law
- Mississippi deputy fatally shot during traffic stop by suspect who was killed by police after chase
- Belarus’ authoritarian leader tightens control over the country’s religious groups
- Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
- Man who lunged at judge in court reportedly said he wanted to kill her
Ranking
- A White House order claims to end 'censorship.' What does that mean?
- Higher wages, fewer temp workers and indicators of the year results
- Global food prices declined from record highs in 2022, the UN says. Except for these two staples
- To plead or not to plead? That is the question for hundreds of Capitol riot defendants
- A Mississippi company is sentenced for mislabeling cheap seafood as premium local fish
- In Texas case, federal appeals panel says emergency care abortions not required by 1986 law
- NY seeks more in penalties in Trump’s civil fraud trial. His defense says no gains were ill-gotten
- The White Lotus Season 3 Cast Revealed
Recommendation
Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
Column: Pac-12 has that rare chance in sports to go out on top
B-1 bomber crashes while trying to land at its base in South Dakota, Air Force says
Nigel Lythgoe stepping aside as ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ judge after sexual assault allegations
NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
A man charged with punching a flight attendant also allegedly kicked a police officer in the groin
Cher is denied an immediate conservatorship over son’s money, but the issue isn’t done
Christopher Nolan recalls Peloton instructor's harsh 'Tenet' review: 'What was going on?'