A judge will reveal the names of the two people who posted $500,000 provisional bail for Long Island liar George Santos last month.
US Magistrate Anne Y. Shields ruled that the names of those who helped secure his release will be unsealed at noon on Friday.
Her warrant and all related documents have been sealed, giving Santos until noon on Friday to appeal her decision.
Santos pleaded not guilty last month to a 13-count charge alleging he defrauded donors, stole from his campaign, lied to Congress about being a millionaire and cheated to collect unemployment benefits.
On Monday, Santos’ attorney Joseph Murray urged the judge to deny the request to disclose the names of Santos’s bail bondsmen or sureties.
“My client would rather surrender to pre-trial detention than subject these sureties to what will inevitably come,” Murray wrote in a letter to U.S. Magistrate Anne Shields.
George Santos is seen speaking outside the Capitol on May 17, amid efforts to have him removed from the House
Magistrate Judge Anne Y. Shields ruled that the names of the bail bondsmen who contributed to Santos’ release will be unsealed at noon Friday
Magistrate Judge Shields’ order and all related documents have been sealed, to give Santos until 12 noon Friday to appeal her decision
Murray suggested they “could be in big trouble,” including possible job loss and bodily harm, if they are publicly identified.
Murray asked her to give them time to withdraw as cosigners if she decides to unseal their names, which Shields kept at the request of the public court attorney.
The lawyer said he, Santos and Santos staff have received threatening and harassing phone calls and messages, including death threats.
Murray said he received a call on Friday from someone yelling, “Who paid Santos’s bond?” and said he is concerned that Santos’ critics are “just waiting to strike” at those who support his release.
“We truly fear for their health, safety and well-being,” Murray wrote.
In a letter last week, a news outlets attorney urged the judge to release the names of Santos’s bail bondsmen, citing a “compelling public interest in maintaining the utmost transparency in these proceedings.”
The New York Times first wrote to Shields on May 23 requesting that the names be unsealed.
According to New York daily newswrote New York Times Senior Counsel Dana Green, “Public interest in openness is particularly strong in this case.
The bails relate to three individuals who have pledged large sums of money to ensure that Rep. Santos can remain at liberty pending further proceedings.
This presents an obvious opportunity for political influence given Rep. Santos and its dependence on these guarantors.;
Other news outlets, including The Associated Press, joined the fray a few days later.
Joseph Murray, attorney for George Santos, is trying to prevent the names of those who contributed to the $500,000 bond from being made public
Former Democratic congressional candidate Robert Zimmerman, center, speaks at a December 29 rally in Mineola, New York, where local leaders and dozens of residents of the Third Congressional District gathered to condemn Santos for lying
Separately, the House Ethics Committee wrote to Santos on May 16 requesting that he identify the people who co-signed his bond.
Murray said Santos originally drafted three financially responsible co-signers as sureties, but one backed out and the other two failed to show up at his arraignment.
That forced them to make “other confidential arrangements” to secure Santos’ release, Murray said.
Santos’ bond is uncovered. That means his co-signers have not paid any money up front, but could be forced to pay the full amount if he fails to meet his release conditions or fails to show up for court.
The 34-year-old, who represents parts of Queens and Long Island, has defied calls to step down and has said he will not drop his bid for a second term.