Rep.-elect George Santos is facing a federal investigation into his finances, according to multiple reports, adding to ongoing probes at the county and state level into his campaign.
Santos has admitted to fabricating much of the biography he shared during his campaign: He did not work at Citigroup or Goldman Sachs, or graduate from Baruch College, as claimed, and he does not own any property, despite previously saying he had more than a dozen properties in his portfolio.
Now, prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York are reportedly investigating him, and are focused at least in part on Santos’ stated financial background and his official disclosures, according to multiple news outlets. CBS News and ABC News first reported on the federal inquiry.
In addition, a spokesperson for Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz told NY1 that their office is reviewing whether Queens County has any jurisdiction over any potential criminal offenses.
Despite claiming in 2020 filing, as a candidate for Congress, that he had no assets or income outside of a $5,000 compensation from a firm called LinkBridge Investors, Santos disclosed this year that he had assets between $1 million and $5 million held by a company he owned, the Devolder Organization.
The Devolder Organization has no known assets or clients, according to The New York Times, which first reported on Santos falsifying his biography.
A spokesperson for the Eastern District of New York declined to comment.
Representatives for Santos did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Santos has downplayed his falsifying of biographical information in interviews since the Times report was published, claiming that he “embellished” his resume but did not “outright lie.”
In an interview with Fox News Wednesday, host Tulsi Gabbard – the former Democratic congresswoman turned independent – grilled Santos on his record, asking the embattled Rep.-elect: “Do you have no shame?”
Santos responded: “Look at Joe Biden. Joe Biden has been lying to the American people for 40 years. He’s the president of the United States. Democrats resoundingly support him. Do they have no shame?”
Santos defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman in November in the district – which represents parts of Queens and Long Island – by roughly 22,000 votes.
Zimmerman has already joined multiple Democrats and Republicans in calling for investigations into Santos’ election campaign at various levels of government.
At a rally on Long Island Thursday morning, the defeated congressional candidate called for the investigations process to continue uninterrupted, saying the issue is not partisan.
“What's at stake before us is not about the results of a congressional election. The stake before us is protecting our democracy, restoring our competency, integrity of our public officials and most of all, protecting the American dream,” Zimmerman said.
New York Attorney General Letitia James said last week her office would look into Santos’ campaign. On Wednesday, a spokesperson for the district attorney for Nassau County, which includes parts of Santos’ Third District, said that office was investigating him as well.
"The numerous fabrications and inconsistencies associated with Congressman-Elect Santos are nothing short of stunning,” Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly, a Republican, said in a statement. “No one is above the law and if a crime was committed in this county, we will prosecute it."