# Representative George Santos: Indictment and Prosecution (Expelled from Congress on Dec 1, 2023) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 10, 2023, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/representative-george-santos-indictment-and-prosecution-expelled-from-congress-on-dec-1-2023/983850 "2023-05-10T14:28:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/representative-george-santos-indictment-and-prosecution-expelled-from-congress-on-dec-1-2023/983850/301 "2023-11-05T20:14:54Z")
Criminal grifters are not especially known for their calm and rational decision making. But I think Santos operated a viable business model. AOC resides in a very safe district. In such cases the opposition party typical lines up a sacrificial lamb to take them on (or sometimes doesn’t run anyone at all). But in the age of online fundraising, nonviable candidates can raise millions from the dimwitted just by opposing a high profile liberal. Santos wanted a piece of the action. With his Ponzi investment accomplices, he set up Red State Strategies, a one stop shop for all your election needs. Then he would recommend them to various going-nowhere New York GOP candidates, not mentioning that he was part owner of the firm. In fact, he would go so far as to introduce the candidates to the group, giving every indication that his relationship with RSS was arm’s length. I nominate George Santos for Sock Puppet of the Year. The man has perfected next-level trolling. Jen Remauro, campaign manager for wholly nonviable GOP candidate Tina Forte, flamed Santos over text messages when she caught wind of his scam: “Are you crazy? You are listed as an owner of red strategies. You told me and tina you didnt even really know then. Stop You played us and now I’m furious.” GOP’s fury, my laughter. Some of what Santos did was pretty dark, but his core scam was hilarious. [EXCLUSIVE: Santos Campaign Meltdown Attracts Interest From House Investigators - TPM – Talking Points Memo](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/exclusive-santos-campaign-meltdown-attracts-interest-from-house-investigators) More generally, why doesn’t Santos resign? He’s a small-time crook: his Congressional salary is fairly hefty relative to his past gigs. McCarthy liked having his vote. Why should he resign? It’s a fun job for a compulsive fabricator and he may as well live his best life before going up the river. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/representative-george-santos-indictment-and-prosecution-expelled-from-congress-on-dec-1-2023/983850/302 "2023-11-07T22:03:58Z")
While Jamie Raskin did not vote to have George whatever-his-real-name-is Santos expelled, he did copy-edit his thank-you note. [https://www.politico.com/f/?id=0000018b-9653-da71-a98f-b7f7e89d0000](https://www.politico.com/f/?id=0000018b-9653-da71-a98f-b7f7e89d0000) ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/representative-george-santos-indictment-and-prosecution-expelled-from-congress-on-dec-1-2023/983850/303 "2023-11-07T22:45:12Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > While Jamie Raskin did not vote to have George whatever-his-real-name-is Santos expelled, he did copy-edit his thank-you note. Why are Democrats so mean? /s ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/representative-george-santos-indictment-and-prosecution-expelled-from-congress-on-dec-1-2023/983850/304 "2023-11-08T03:28:01Z")
I’ve got to say……the fact that Santos ran a blatant scam on Tina Forte actually made me not hate him for a few minutes, because Forte is a conservative grifter wannabe and genuinely horrible person. It was such a classic it made me laugh…….he talked Forte into making a performance art run against AOC, then he recommended his consulting firm without telling her it was his consulting firm, where he proceeded to take 80% of the money he fundraised on her behalf then sent her bills totaling in the six figures for services not covered by the small portion of donations that actually went to her campaign. When I think about all the money that went to Santos instead of helping conservatives and conservative causes, it makes me smile. And the other scam in that article you linked was positively Nigerian - he tried to convince a campaign donor to “invest” in helping a nameless Polish oligarch recover a locked crypto wallet. The donor declined because it was such a blatant and obvious scam. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/representative-george-santos-indictment-and-prosecution-expelled-from-congress-on-dec-1-2023/983850/305 "2023-11-08T04:50:17Z")
Maybe he just hadn’t met the right nameless Polish oligarch yet. ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/representative-george-santos-indictment-and-prosecution-expelled-from-congress-on-dec-1-2023/983850/306 "2023-11-08T16:18:08Z")
Maybe he IS the nameless Polish oligarch, and this is a scam-within-a-scam. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/representative-george-santos-indictment-and-prosecution-expelled-from-congress-on-dec-1-2023/983850/307 "2023-11-08T16:58:01Z")
(obligatory) It’s scams all the way down! ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/representative-george-santos-indictment-and-prosecution-expelled-from-congress-on-dec-1-2023/983850/308 "2023-11-08T17:05:11Z")
With elephants standing on the scams. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/representative-george-santos-indictment-and-prosecution-expelled-from-congress-on-dec-1-2023/983850/309 "2023-11-08T22:13:34Z")
What about the turtles? I was promised _turtles_, dammit! ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/representative-george-santos-indictment-and-prosecution-expelled-from-congress-on-dec-1-2023/983850/310 "2023-11-09T08:21:58Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > he tried to convince a campaign donor to “invest” in helping a nameless Polish oligarch recover a locked crypto wallet. Polish, not Nigerian? ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2023, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/representative-george-santos-indictment-and-prosecution-expelled-from-congress-on-dec-1-2023/983850/311 "2023-11-10T02:30:56Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > because Forte is a conservative grifter wannabe and genuinely horrible person. She sure is. In fact she was admin for a far-right encrypted Telegram channel frequented by Proud Boys and the like. On Jan 6, she posted: > “Where can we hang Nancy ??” OperationFlagDrop asked in a message beneath the picture of Forte and her Pelosi banner. [https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/aoc-challenger-helped-lead-encrypted-chat-group-filled-with-proud-boys-and-racial-slurs](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/aoc-challenger-helped-lead-encrypted-chat-group-filled-with-proud-boys-and-racial-slurs) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2023, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/representative-george-santos-indictment-and-prosecution-expelled-from-congress-on-dec-1-2023/983850/312 "2023-11-11T02:12:55Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Polish, not Nigerian? He said Polish, so Nigerian. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2023, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/representative-george-santos-indictment-and-prosecution-expelled-from-congress-on-dec-1-2023/983850/313 "2023-11-16T13:40:47Z")
No punishment for George “If That Is His Real Name” Santos by the Ethics Committee. Instead, it will be up to his peers. > **[Ethics Committee will not recommend punishment for embattled Rep. George Santos](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ethics-committee-recommend-punishment-embattled-rep-george-santos/story?id=104913312)** > > The House Ethics Committee will not recommend any punishment for George Santos in a public report it plans to release this week after a monthslong investigation ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2023, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/representative-george-santos-indictment-and-prosecution-expelled-from-congress-on-dec-1-2023/983850/314 "2023-11-16T14:29:20Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I was promised _turtles_, dammit! And now you see the scam. Or at least part of it. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2023, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/representative-george-santos-indictment-and-prosecution-expelled-from-congress-on-dec-1-2023/983850/315 "2023-11-16T14:35:28Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > No punishment for George “If That Is His Real Name” Santos by the Ethics Committee. Instead, it will be up to his peers. Way to go, Ethics Committee - you’re really showing some spine here. Oh no wait, sorry, that’s not spine; that’s a near-complete abdication of the job you were supposed to do. I always get those two things confused. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2023, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/representative-george-santos-indictment-and-prosecution-expelled-from-congress-on-dec-1-2023/983850/316 "2023-11-16T15:33:22Z")
As a followup: The Ethics Committee has released their report, which does indicate that they believe he engaged in crimes. I guess there’s gonna be another vote to kick him out? > **[House Ethics Committee releases report on George Santos](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/house-ethics-committee-george-santos-report/)** > > The House Ethics Committee found there was "substantial evidence" of wrongdoing by the New York GOP congressman. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2023, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/representative-george-santos-indictment-and-prosecution-expelled-from-congress-on-dec-1-2023/983850/317 "2023-11-16T15:58:00Z")
Well, about that… > ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2023, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/representative-george-santos-indictment-and-prosecution-expelled-from-congress-on-dec-1-2023/983850/318 "2023-11-16T15:58:38Z")
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat??? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2023, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/representative-george-santos-indictment-and-prosecution-expelled-from-congress-on-dec-1-2023/983850/319 "2023-11-16T16:13:14Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > that’s a near-complete abdication of the job you were supposed to do I dunno. It seems like the did a good job providing political cover for the rest of Congress. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2023, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/representative-george-santos-indictment-and-prosecution-expelled-from-congress-on-dec-1-2023/983850/320 "2023-11-16T16:35:26Z")
Only an outstandingly stupid criminal hangs around the scene of the crime after they’ve looted everything they can. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/representative-george-santos-indictment-and-prosecution-expelled-from-congress-on-dec-1-2023/983850.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/representative-george-santos-indictment-and-prosecution-expelled-from-congress-on-dec-1-2023/983850.md?page=17)