George Santos, ex-aide, charged for posing as McCarthy staff member.
Former Campaign Aide Charged with Wire Fraud and Identity Fraud
Rep. George Santos’s (R-NY) former campaign aide has been federally charged with wire fraud and identity fraud. The aide is accused of impersonating House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) former chief of staff to solicit campaign donations.
Indictment Details
Samuel Miele, 27, was indicted in documents unsealed on Wednesday. The indictment alleges that he solicited donations using a fake identity from over a dozen potential contributors two years ago when Santos was a candidate in his New York district.
Miele is facing four counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, the latter charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison. Miele pleaded not guilty at the arraignment on Wednesday and was released on a $150,000 bond.
The indictment reveals that Miele claimed to be a “high-ranking aide to a member of the House with leadership responsibilities.” He was responsible for fraudulent fundraising emails and phone calls, receiving a 15% commission from successfully obtained campaign contributions.
Although the documents did not explicitly name Santos or the House aide that Miele impersonated, previous reports from the New York Times and Washington Post identified the aide as Dan Meyer, McCarthy’s former chief of staff.
Confirmation and Response
McCarthy confirmed the reports in January, stating that Miele was fired once Santos became aware of his actions. Miele had sent emails from an account using McCarthy’s aide’s full name and allegedly signed the messages using the person’s official title, according to the indictment.
Miele’s lawyer, Kevin H. Marino, released a statement asserting his client’s innocence and expressing confidence in a complete vindication at trial.
Related Charges and Calls for Resignation
The same prosecutors who filed charges against Miele also filed charges against Santos in May. Santos faces 13 counts, including money laundering, wire fraud, theft of public funds, and false statements. He pleaded not guilty and was released on a $500,000 bond.
House Democrats initially sought to oust Santos in mid-May, but House Republicans secured enough votes to push the matter to the House Ethics Committee for further investigation. The status of the investigation remains unclear after the 60-day review period expired before Congress adjourned for its August recess.
Amidst the controversies surrounding Santos, several representatives, including New York Republicans, have called for his resignation.
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