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.”
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.
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.
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?