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CNN
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Federal prosecutors in New York are investigating the finances of Congressman-elect George Santos, a source familiar with the matter told CNN.
News of an investigation launched by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York came as the Republican admitted to lying about a significant part of his biography. I’m facing a question about assets and loans that have earned more than $700,000 in total from campaigns.
Santos told Semaphore on Wednesday that he made a profit through “capital referrals for the wealthy” and “trading.”
The federal attorney’s office for the Eastern District of New York declined to comment.
CBS News first reported the federal investigation, which announced Wednesday that the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office was investigating a hoax from Santos.
Nassau County District Attorney Ann Donnelly said:
She said residents of New York’s Third Congressional District, which covers part of Nassau County, “must have honest and accountable representatives in Congress. If a crime is committed in this county, we will prosecute it.”
Office spokesperson Brendan Brosh added, “We are looking into this matter.”
CNN has reached out to Santos officials for comment on the investigation.
The New York Times revealed for the first time last week that Santos’ biography appears to be partially fictional.CNN has confirmed details of its coverage of his college education and career.
CNN’s KFile said Santos was forced to drop out of New York City’s private school when his family’s real estate fortunes plummeted, and said he represented Goldman Sachs at the top financial conferences. Revealed even more falsehoods from.
Santos admitted in interviews with WABC Radio and the New York Post earlier this week that he attended Baruch College and New York University and lied about his employment at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup. He claimed he had committed no crime.
CNN confirmed a Times report that Santos was indicted for embezzlement in a Brazilian court in 2011, according to the Rio de Janeiro court case file. However, according to 2013 court records, the charges were archived after a court subpoena was not answered and Santos was unable to be found.
In an interview with the New York Post, Santos denied having been charged with a crime in Brazil.
“I’m not a criminal here. I’m not a criminal here, in Brazil, in any jurisdiction in the world. Absolutely not. It didn’t happen,” Santos said.
The New York Attorney General’s Office told CNN last week that it had not launched a “formal investigation” into Santos, but Attorney General Letitia James “reviewed” some of the things raised about Santos in recent reports. We are investigating,” he said.
Santos has also faced increased scrutiny from members of his own party.
“As a Navy man who campaigned to restore accountability and integrity to our government, I demand a full investigation by the House Ethics Committee and, if necessary, by law enforcement. I believe that,” Republican nominee Nick LaRota said in a statement.
Another Republican-elect, Rep. Anthony Desposito of New York, condemned Santos’ false statements and called for him to “pursue the path of honesty,” but did not go so far as to call for an investigation.
Rep.-elect Mike Lawler, also a freshman congressman from New York, urged his fellow Republicans to cooperate with the investigation, called on Santos to apologize, and called the whole controversy a “distraction.” Lawler added that by downplaying his actions, Santos “just makes things worse.”
