'Financial mess': George Santos’ dysfunctional campaign committee still owes over $150K

Former Rep. George Santos (R-New York) has been gone from Congress since early December, but according to Politico, his campaign committee's debts remain — debts that, Politico's Jessica Piper reports, include more than $150,000 owed to vendors.

In an article published on January 31, Piper explains, "His former campaign treasurer, Nancy Marks, pleaded guilty to fraudulent reporting last fall. Leaving Congress has hardly ended Santos' campaign finance woes, however, and his campaign committee remains active although he is not seeking election this year."

According to Piper, a report filed by the committee on January 31 "underscores the financial mess that Santos' campaign wrought."

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"The campaign reported that it owes more than $16,000 to WinRed, the online payment processing platform — a debt not listed in his previous filings," Piper explains. "In total, the campaign reported owing $155,000 to the platform, a handful of former staffers, legal and fundraising firms and an Italian restaurant in Queens. The report also continued to list $715,000 that is owed to Santos by the campaign."

Piper adds, "Prosecutors have alleged that Santos never loaned his campaign that money to begin with. Expenses reported by Santos' campaign in the fourth quarter included nearly $2200 spent at the Capitol Hill Club, a private social club for Republicans located next to the Republican National Committee's headquarters, over three visits, including the more than $1300 spent on December 4 after he was expelled. Other expenses were largely for compliance consulting and payments to WinRed."

READ MORE: Democratic hopeful slams GOP rival's lack of campaigning in race to replace George Santos

Read the full Politico report at this link.