The people who guaranteed the $500,000 bond of Rep. George Santos, the Republican who represents New York’s 3rd congressional district, LIBN has learned.
It was Santos’ father, Gercino Dos Santos, and his aunt, Elma Santos Preven, who guaranteed the bond, LIBN learned Thursday from a source familiar with the matter. They are the only two suretors provided by the defendant. Santos’ father and aunt were not required to pay any of the money upfront, under the bond agreement, but they would be held financially liable if Santos did not return to court.
Earlier this month, the congressman said he was protecting family member by keeping the cosigners secret as he fought criminal charges. But on Thursday, those names were made public in federal court.
In a newly unsealed filing, Judge Joanna Seybert wrote Santos “did nothing to diffuse the ‘media frenzy,’” adding that his attempts to shield the names of his family members had “simply created hysteria over what is, in actuality, a nonissue.”
“It’s now public record that George Santos is fully bought and paid for by these individuals, and thus is compromised as a member of Congress,” Josh Lafazan, the Nassau County legislator who had vied for the seat in the Democratic primaries, said in a statement. “Family or not, a sitting member of Congress accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars raises serious ethical flags.”
In this closely watched district, Zak Malamed, a Democratic candidate eyeing the seat in the next election, weighed in.
“The latest news in George Santos’ legal case is yet another reminder that he is an embarrassment to Long Island and Queens residents,” Malamed said in a statement. “There are still many unanswered questions about his ethical, moral, and legal decisions and he remains a dishonest and disgraceful con artist who should have no place representing NY-03 in Washington.”
Santos’s attorney Joseph Murray had said in a letter to Seybert, who is based in Central Islip, that Santos would agree to the disclosure that there is a “family” relationship between the Republican congressman and those who signed his bond.
By Thursday-afternoon Santos said in a Tweet that “My family & I have made peace with the judges decision to release their names. Now I pray that the judge is correct and no harm comes to them. I look forward to continuing this process & I ask for the media to not disturb or harass my dad & aunt for the sakes of cheap reporting.”
News media outlets had challenged the sealing of records regarding the cosigners after Santos pleaded not guilty on May 10 to a 13-count indictment charging that he duped donors, stole from his campaign, lied to Congress about being a millionaire and cheated to collect unemployment benefits he didn’t deserve.
Both his aunt and father are New York residents who donated to Santos’ political campaign. In campaign finance records, his father lists his occupation as a painter. Preven said she worked as a mail carrier. Attempts to reach them on Thursday were unsuccessful.
Efforts by Santos to withhold their names from the public had fueled speculation and doubt, with some House Democrats suggesting that a financial supporter could be seeking to exert political influence on the congressman.
Earlier this week, Reps. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., and Greg Landsman, D-Ohio, introduced a resolution calling on the House Ethics Committee to disclose the names so they could determine whether Santos was in violation of congressional gifting rules.
Santos has defied calls to resign, while refusing to answer questions about the source of his wealth, including a $700,000 payment he made to his campaign. According to federal prosecutors, Santos vastly overstated his income and assets, falsely certifying that he earned a $750,000 salary from a consulting company known as the Devolder Organization LLC.
Santos could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. He is due back in court on June 30.
Associated Press contributed to this story.
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Adina Genn
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