Former Santos campaign staffer pleads guilty to wire fraud
Former Campaign Staffer Pleads Guilty in Fraud Investigation
Another former campaign staffer of Rep. George Santos (R-NY) has pleaded guilty in part of a federal investigation into claims the New York Republican committed fraud during his campaigns for the House.
Samuel Miele, who served as a campaign fundraiser for Santos during the 2020 and 2022 election cycles, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
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Miele was charged earlier this year with four counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft in an alleged fraud scheme, which he previously pleaded not guilty to. On Tuesday, Miele admitted he committed wire fraud but not identity theft.
The Justice Department said Miele impersonated a high-ranking aide to a member of House leadership, listed as “Person #1” in the indictment, as part of a “scheme” to collect donations for Santos’s campaigns. Multiple outlets have reported that “Person #1” is believed to be former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) chief of staff.
Miele admitted to committing access fraud by charging credit cards without authorization for contributions to Santos’s campaign, other candidates’ campaigns, and for his own personal use.
The former fundraiser faces up to 20 years in prison. Miele agreed to pay $109,171 in restitution, $69,136 in forfeiture, and a separate stipulated payment of $470,000 to a contributor, according to the DOJ.
“The defendant used fraud and deceit to steal more than one hundred thousand dollars from his victims, funneling this money into the campaign committees of candidates for the House, and into his own pockets,” U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said in a statement. “Defrauding potential political contributors undermines our democracy, and we will vigorously prosecute such conduct.”
Miele’s guilty plea comes over a month after then-campaign treasurer Nancy Marks pleaded guilty to conspiring with a congressional candidate to deceive the Federal Election Commission. She faces up to five years in prison.
Santos recently pleaded not guilty to charges in a new indictment brought against him by Peace. The indictment alleged that he filed deceptive fundraising reports and committed credit card fraud during the 2022 election cycle. The New York Republican was originally indicted on six charges in May, but Peace brought 17 new charges in a superseding indictment on Oct. 10.
In an interview with CNN last week, Santos placed the blame for his 23 charges at Marks’s feet.
“I never ever submitted or even looked at a single report,” Santos said. “I’m a candidate. Candidates do not handle money. Candidates do not handle finances. Candidates do not handle filings. I don’t even know what the FEC filing system looks like.”
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The New York freshman has repeatedly come under fire for his legal troubles since being sworn into Congress earlier this year, with several lawmakers, including those from his own party, calling for his resignation.
Santos survived a second expulsion attempt in Congress after the House rejected a motion to remove him on Nov. 1, citing an ongoing congressional ethics investigation into the New York Republican. The Ethics Committee issued an update to the investigation on Oct. 31, which is looking at Santos’s federal indictments, as well as several other state criminal and ethical indictments.
How can the allegations of fraud and admissions by former staff members impact Rep. Santos’s ability to effectively carry out his duties as a member of the House of Representatives?
Idates and for personal use,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan L. Goldstein. “This guilty plea underscores our commitment to holding accountable those who manipulate the political process for personal gain.”
This guilty plea comes as the federal investigation into Rep. Santos’s alleged fraud continues. The investigation began after allegations surfaced that Santos was involved in a fraudulent scheme to deceive donors and misappropriate campaign funds.
Earlier this year, another former campaign staffer, Michael Reynolds, pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and identity theft in connection to the same investigation. Reynolds admitted to using fraudulent means to collect donations for Santos’s campaigns and to appropriating funds for personal use.
These guilty pleas raise serious questions about the integrity and ethics of Rep. Santos’s campaigns. The allegations of fraud and the admissions by his former staff members paint a troubling picture of potential wrongdoing within his campaign operations.
As a member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Santos has a responsibility to represent and serve the best interests of his constituents. These allegations of fraud not only undermine public trust in the political process but also raise doubts about Rep. Santos’s ability to effectively carry out his duties.
It is important that a thorough and impartial investigation be conducted to determine the extent of Rep. Santos’s involvement in the alleged fraud. The guilty pleas of his former campaign staff members indicate that there is sufficient evidence to warrant further scrutiny.
If Rep. Santos is found guilty of fraud, it would be a serious breach of public trust and a betrayal of the voters who elected him to office. It is crucial that the justice system holds him accountable for any criminal activity he may have engaged in.
In light of these developments, it is also incumbent upon the Republican Party to take appropriate action. If Rep. Santos is found guilty, the party should consider measures to address the damage caused by his alleged actions and to ensure that such misconduct does not reoccur within its ranks.
Citizens deserve elected officials who are honest, trustworthy, and dedicated to serving the public interest. Cases like this underscore the need for robust campaign finance regulations and increased transparency in the political process to prevent fraud and corruption.
The guilty plea of Samuel Miele, along with the earlier guilty plea of Michael Reynolds, should serve as a wake-up call for the American public and our elected representatives. It is crucial that we remain vigilant in holding our elected officials accountable for their actions and that we demand integrity in our political system.
As the investigation into Rep. Santos’s alleged fraud continues, the public will be watching closely to see how justice is served. We must ensure that our democratic processes are protected and that those who seek to undermine them are held responsible.
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