George Santos ‘would rather go to jail than reveal who coughed up $50,000 to save him’
Liar George Santos “would rather go to jail than reveal the names of two people who raised $50,000 to bail him out” – while another changed his mind at the last minute for fear they would lose their jobs if they would be identified
New York’s embattled Congressman George Santos would rather go to jail than name the people who secured his $500,000 provisional bail, his attorney said Monday.
News outlets have asked the judge in the Santos case to release the names of the people who paid for his bond, citing the overwhelming public interest and the need for transparency.
The stakes are high: One person lined up to contribute to the bond, but failed to show up in court that day, fearing the consequences of backing Santos.
Santos pleaded not guilty May 10 to a 13-charge indictment that he had defrauded donors, stole from his campaign, lied to Congress that he was a millionaire and cheated to collect unemployment benefits he didn’t deserve. He is due back in court on June 30.
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.
On Monday, Joseph Murray, Santos’ attorney, urged the judge to deny the request to release the names of Santos’s bail bondsmen or sureties.
George Santos is seen speaking outside the Capitol on May 17, amid efforts to have him removed from the House
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
Murray suggested they “could be in big trouble,” including possible job loss and bodily harm, if they are publicly identified.
“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.
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.
Murray said he, Santos and Santos staff have received threatening and harassing calls and messages, including death threats.
The lawyer said he received a call on Friday from someone yelling, “Who posted Santos’ bail?” 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.
Prosecutors have not taken a position on the unsealing request.
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
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.
Other news outlets, including The Associated Press, joined the fray a few days later.
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.