纽约-四面楚歌的新任美国众议员乔治·桑托斯(George Santos)是一名来自纽约的共和党人，被控犯有一系列金融罪行，包括挪用竞选资金，他从竞选中提取了85，000美元，以帮助偿还他借给自己的数十万美元，以便在2022年当选。
周五公布的国会竞选记录显示，桑托斯在过去三个月中筹集了相对较少的13.8万美元竞选连任，预计这将是该国2024年最受关注和竞争最激烈的竞选之一。
记录显示，他花费了近118，000美元，其中大部分用于偿还去年他借给自己的超过700，000美元，以取得成功但令人惊讶的胜利。
令人印象深刻的筹款活动表明，在抵御来自共和党人凯伦·库里(Kellen Curry)的挑战方面可能会遇到困难。凯伦·库里是阿富汗战争的退伍军人，曾是摩根大通的银行家，在同一时期筹集了20多万美元，花费了3.6万美元。
与此同时，争夺纽约第三个国会选区的民主党领袖、拿骚县议员约书亚·拉法赞(Joshua Lafazan)已经筹集了超过34.5万美元，其中大部分仍在银行。
今年5月，桑托斯对13项联邦指控表示不服，这些指控包括抢劫他的竞选资金，欺诈性地领取失业救济金，以及向国会谎称自己是百万富翁。如果罪名成立，他将面临长达20年的监禁。
一天后，他与巴西官员签署了一份协议，允许他避免因在2008年伪造两张被盗支票而被起诉。
尽管面临法律困境，桑托斯发誓要努力保住他的国会席位，这个席位主要包括长岛的西郊，但也横跨纽约市皇后区的部分地区。
他家乡地区和其他地方的共和党人，包括该州国会代表团中的一些共和党成员，都敦促他放弃连任计划。
让事情变得复杂的是，国会选区是否将不得不再次重新划分，这可能意味着一些共和党在职者的麻烦，如果国会的路线被转移到更有利于民主党的选区。
桑托斯在4月份宣布了他的连任竞选，尽管不断有人呼吁他辞职，因为他在上次竞选中进行了许多欺骗，包括谎报自己的学历、华尔街血统和其他简历造假。
关于他的财务状况的严重问题也浮出水面——包括尽管最近出现了财务问题，包括驱逐和欠下数千英镑的租金，但他似乎很快积累了财富的来源。
桑托斯还面临众议院道德委员会和地方当局的调查，调查他在此前的竞选中是否违反了任何法律。
US Rep. George Santos repays himself $85K raised from lackluster reelection fundraising
FILE - U.S. Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., speaks to reporters outside the Capitol, in Washington, May 17, 2023. Santos, charged with a host of financial crimes, including embezzling money from his campaign, withdrew $85,000 from his campaign to help repay hundreds of thousands of dollars he loaned himself to get elected in 2022. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)Show moreundefined
The Associated Press
NEW YORK --Embattled freshman U.S. Rep. George Santos, a Republican from New York charged with a host of financial crimes, including embezzling money from his campaign, withdrew $85,000 from his campaign to help repay hundreds of thousands of dollars he loaned himself to get elected in 2022.
Congressional campaign records released Friday show Santos raised a relatively paltry $138,000 during the last three months for a reelection bid that is expected to be one of the country's most-watched and hotly contested races in 2024.
The records show he spent nearly $118,000, the bulk of it to begin repaying the more than $700,000 he loaned himself for his successful but surprising victory last year.
The underwhelming fundraising suggests potential struggles in fending off a challenge from fellow Republican Kellen Curry, an Afghanistan war veteran and former J.P. Morgan banker, who raised more than $200,000 and spent $36,000 during the same period.
Meanwhile, the top Democrat vying for New York's Third Congressional District, Nassau County legislator Joshua Lafazan, has raised more than $345,000, with much of it still in the bank.
Santos pleaded not guilty in May to a 13-count federal indictment charging him with looting his campaign coffers, fraudulently receiving unemployment and lying to Congress about being a millionaire. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
A day later, he signed an agreement with Brazilian officials that allowed him to avoid prosecution for forging two stolen checks in 2008.
Despite his legal woes, Santos has vowed to fight to keep his congressional seat, which mostly encompasses the western suburbs of Long Island but also straddles parts of the Queens borough in New York City.
Fellow Republicans in his home district and elsewhere, including some fellow GOP members in the state's congressional delegation, have urged him to abandon his reelection plans.
Complicating matters is whether congressional districts will again have to be redrawn, which could mean trouble for some Republican incumbents if congressional lines are moved to make districts more favorable to Democrats.
Santos announced his reelection bid in April, despite a steady drumbeat calling for his resignation because of his many deceptions during his last campaign, including lying about his education, Wall Street pedigree and other resume fabrications.
Serious questions about his finances also surfaced — including the source of what appears to be a quickly amassed fortune despite recent financial problems, including evictions and owing thousands in back rent.
Santos is also facing investigation by the House Ethics Committee, as well as by local authorities looking into whether he has violated any laws during his previous campaign.
