'I don't have that money to throw around!' Santos’ relative denies ever donating $5,800 to his campaign
A relative of New York GOP Congressman George Santos is denying that they ever made a $5,800 donation to his 2022 congressional campaign, Mother Jones reports.
The Federal Election Commission reports that Santos’ campaign raked in over $45,000 from his Queen, New York-based relatives. However, during an interview at their home, one of the relatives told a Mother Jones reporter that they never donated to the congressman’s campaign.
The reporter noted to the anonymous relative that included in Santos’ financial report were two separate donations of $2,900 listed under their name.
READ MORE: George Santos is living the GOP's values
“I’m dumbfounded,” the relative said. “It’s all news to me. I don’t have that money to throw around!”
According to Mother Jones, the relative’s reaction suggests that “money was improperly donated” to the congressman’s campaign.
Additionally, Santos 2020 campaign financial reports also listed the name of someone who never contributed to his campaign. Stephen Berger was listed as a retiree living on Brandt Road in Brawley, California, who made a $2,500 donation. A Santos spokesperson said that the actual owner of the home, GOP donor William Brandt, “does not know Stephen Berger nor has Stephen Berger ever lived” there.
READ MORE: Does the real George Santos even exist?
Saurav Ghosh, director for federal campaign finance reform at the nonpartisan watchdog Campaign Legal Center, said both of these instances are referred to as a “contribution in the name of another,” and is “something that is explicitly prohibited under federal law.”
These donations were revealed just days after Santos stepped down from his House GOP committee assignments as he faces significant outside pressure over his fabricated stories.
AlterNet reports that the Department of Justice is currently investigating the congressman.
READ MORE: DOJ suggests it is conducting a criminal investigation of George Santos
