The congressman has scrambled by quite a few treasurers in latest months as his marketing campaign funds got here beneath scrutiny, and at one level he listed somebody who later denied agreeing to tackle the function. The treasurer named in his paperwork previous to Friday’s amendments, Andrew Olson, didn’t reply to a request for remark.
This variation was a reminder of Santos’ rising isolation. It got here as a regulation agency that assisted the New York congressman with points earlier than the Federal Election Fee and the Home Ethics Committee dropped him as a consumer, in line with individuals accustomed to the state of affairs, who spoke in situation of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. Over the past elections In keeping with the paperwork, his essential election committee paid the agency, Dickinson Wright, about $40,000 for consulting and compliance companies.
A spokesperson for Dickinson Wright didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. Santos didn’t reply to a textual content message asking for remark. The congressman’s director of public relations resigned this week.
Individuals accustomed to the state of affairs mentioned they have been uncertain how Santos would take issues earlier than the FEC or the Home of Representatives on ethics with out recommendation. He has a separate legal professional representing him within the federal legal case for the Japanese District of New York, who additionally didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Quite a few complaints filed by watchdog teams with the Federal Election Fee earlier this yr accused Santos of misrepresenting marketing campaign spending and utilizing marketing campaign assets to cowl private bills, amongst different costs. In January, the Justice Division’s Public Integrity Division requested the Federal Election Fee to droop any enforcement motion in opposition to Santos, suggesting prosecutors have been wanting into overlapping points.
In an indictment final week, Santos was charged with misappropriating donor cash for private acquire and mendacity in private finance disclosure types submitted to Congress, amongst different alleged wrongdoings. Inconsistencies with paperwork filed by his marketing campaign with the Federal Election Fee weren’t included within the costs, though authorized consultants mentioned prosecutors may deliver extra costs alongside the way in which.
In the meantime, FEC analysts continued to query its numerous committees for errors and omissions within the paperwork. These requests will now be answered by Santos as Treasurer.
