Fundraiser for Rep. George Santos Indicted for Allegedly Impersonating Congressional Aide

Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) speaks with members of the press as he leaves Federal Court in Central Islip, N.Y., on May 10, 2023. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

A former fundraiser for the campaign of Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) was indicted for impersonating a high-ranking congressional aide while garnering donations for the campaign.

Fundraiser Samuel Miele has been charged with four counts of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to court documents (pdf) filed on Aug. 15. Mr. Santos was not charged in the case involving Mr. Miele.

The indictment, filed in the United States District Court Eastern District of New York, alleges that Mr. Miele engaged in a fraudulent scheme to solicit financial contributions for the campaign by impersonating a high-ranking aide to a member of the House.

The indictment did not identify the impersonated individual by name, but multiple news reports identified the aide as Dan Myer, now retired as the longtime chief of staff to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who was minority leader at the time.

The Indictment

The indictment outlines the details of the alleged scheme, which occurred between August and December 2021. Mr. Miele is accused of impersonating an individual identified as “Person #1, a high-ranking aide,” in both email and telephone communications with potential campaign contributors.

Using a false email account created in that individual’s name, Mr. Miele allegedly sent fraudulent fundraising solicitations to more than a dozen potential contributors. The indictment states that Mr. Miele received a commission of 15 percent of each contribution he successfully raised.

The document further alleges that Mr. Miele’s actions were unauthorized by the individual he was impersonating, the campaign, or other agents of the campaign. However, it goes on to assert that Mr. Miele sent a letter to Mr. Santos, admitting to “faking my identity to a big donor,” saying he was“high risk, high reward in everything I do.”

The indictment claims that the fraudulent scheme enriched Mr. Miele while deceiving potential contributors and compromising the integrity of the campaign’s fundraising efforts.

Mr. Miele faces multiple counts of wire fraud, with each count corresponding to specific instances where he allegedly transmitted fraudulent fundraising solicitations.

In addition to wire fraud charges, Mr. Miele is charged with aggravated identity theft for knowingly and intentionally possessing and using another person’s identity without lawful authority.

The indictment also includes a criminal forfeiture allegation, notifying Mr. Miele that the government will seek forfeiture of any property, real or personal, obtained directly or indirectly as a result of the alleged offenses.

Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) weighed in on the issue on X, formerly Twitter, saying, “With the arrest of George Santos’s aide a reminder that when we voted to expel indicted fraudster and con artist Santos 100% of House Republicans voted to block us and keep Santos in Congress.”

Charges Against Santos

News of Mr. Miele’s charges came just three months after Mr. Santos’ arrest on federal criminal charges in relation to an alleged scheme involving fraud, money laundering, and theft of public funds.

The 13-count indictment, unsealed on May 10, charges Mr. Santos, 34, with defrauding prospective political supporters by laundering funds to pay for his personal expenses and illegally receiving unemployment benefits while he was employed.

He is also accused of making false statements to the House of Representatives about his assets, income, and liabilities.

“This indictment seeks to hold Santos accountable for various alleged fraudulent schemes and brazen misrepresentations,” said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace in a statement.

“Taken together, the allegations in the indictment charge Santos with relying on repeated dishonesty and deception to ascend to the halls of Congress and enrich himself. He used political contributions to line his pockets, unlawfully applied for unemployment benefits that should have gone to New Yorkers who had lost their jobs due to the pandemic, and lied to the House of Representatives.”

The first-term congressman was arrested on the morning of May 10. He pleaded not guilty. The next court date is set for Sept. 7.

Mr. Santos has been under intense scrutiny over allegedly lying about large parts of his personal background and professional history, some of which he has admitted to fabricating.

According to the Department of Justice, Mr. Santos used an LLC to deceive potential political backers during his successful congressional campaign in September 2022.

Prosecutors also allege Mr. Santos made a fraudulent June 2020 application for unemployment benefits under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Securities Act.

Mr. McCarthy has not said that Mr. Santos must leave the House of Representatives in light of the criminal charges from the Biden administration’s Justice Department.

“I'll look at the charges,” Mr. McCarthy told reporters on May 9, during a press conference mainly focused on debt ceiling negotiations with President Joe Biden.

The New York lawmaker has maintained his innocence and said he has no intention of leaving Congress.

Mr. Santos’s campaign did not immediately respond to The Epoch Times’s request for comment. A press officer for Mr. Santos’s congressional office responded, saying that, as such, they have nothing to do with the campaign.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.