A former fundraiser for Rep. George Santos was charged on federal counts that he impersonated a senior congressional aide whereas asking for contributions for the GOP lawmaker’s marketing campaign.
Sam Miele, 27, was charged with 4 counts of wire fraud and aggravated identification theft in an alleged scheme to defraud donors and procure cash for Mr. Santos. Prosecutors stated Mr. Miele used a pretend identify and e mail deal with to impersonate a “high-ranking aide to a member of the House with leadership responsibilities.”
The indictment Wednesday didn’t determine who was impersonated, however particulars of the fees are just like the story first reported by The Washington Times that named Dan Meyer, now retired because the longtime chief of employees to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, California Republican, who on the time was minority chief.
“Mr. Miele is not guilty of these charges,” stated Mr. Miele’s lawyer, Kevin Marino. “He looks forward to complete vindication at trial as soon as possible.”
The Times reached out to Mr. Santos’ workplace for remark however didn’t instantly hear again.
Federal prosecutors said that Mr. Miele despatched “fraudulent fundraising solicitations” to greater than a dozen potential donors from August to December 2021, at instances signing the emails with Mr. Meyer’s full identify and title and organising a pretend e mail account with the primary letter and full final identify of the aide.
In a letter despatched to Mr. Santos final September, Mr. Miele admitted to “faking my identity to a big donor,” in accordance with the indictment. He described himself as “high risk, high reward in everything I do.”
Mr. Miele earned a fee of 15% for every contribution he raised, prosecutors stated.
Mr. Santos was not charged within the indictment, however the details of the case depend on occasions that tie in with the lawmaker’s personal alleged crimes of wire fraud and cash laundering, federal prosecutors stated in a submitting Wednesday.
Mr. Miele, a former House intern in 2018 for Rep. Pete Sessions, Texas Republican, pleaded not responsible to the fees in Brooklyn federal courtroom and was launched on a $150,000 bond.
Mr. Sessions has already denounced Mr. Santos and is “not supportive” of him being a part of the Republican convention.
Mr. Santos in May was indicted on 13 federal costs on allegations he misled donors and misrepresented his funds to the general public and authorities companies. The congressman pleaded not responsible.
Mr. Santos has ignored calls from each side of the aisle to resign. A Democratic lawmaker compelled a vote on a decision to expel him from Congress in May, however the chamber voted to ship the measure to the Ethics Committee, which has been investigating the congressman for months.
Despite his authorized troubles and pariah standing amongst native and state Republican officers in his personal district in Long Island, he’s working for reelection in 2024.
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