(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Federal prosecutors in New York have charged Samuel Miele, a former campaign fundraiser for Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., with identity theft.
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York indictment revealed Miele’s elaborate scheme involving the impersonation of a top aide to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. The indictment included four counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft against Miele.
The six-page document outlined his involvement with Santos during 2020 and 2022. Miele allegedly orchestrated a commission-based system, pocketing 15% of each donation obtained through his work in Santos’s campaign.
Miele pleaded not guilty to the charges and was subsequently released on a $150,000 bond, CNBC reported.
In a statement to the news outlet, Kevin Marino, an attorney representing Miele, said his client looked forward to the trial. “Mr. Miele is not guilty of these charges,” Marino said. “He looks forward to complete vindication at trial as soon as possible.”
Santos himself has previously faced legal troubles in the same district court. Three months ago, the New York Republican was indicted for fraud, theft, money laundering and alleged false statements.
McCarthy has for the most part defended Santos ahead of the charges, refusing to cave into Democrat pressure, and some Republicans, to oust the Republican freshman from Congress. The House speaker instead tapped the House Ethics Committee to investigate Santos regarding the allegations raised against him.
“I think we can look at this very quickly and come to a conclusion on what George Santos did and did not do through ethics, a safe bipartisan committee,” McCarthy told reporters in May. “I would like the Ethics Committee to move rapidly on this.”
Santos pleaded not guilty to the 13 criminal charges and has refused to resign despite the condemnation from New York Republicans.
