A federal court has released information
confirming that Congressman George Santos's his father
and aunt posted his bail following his arrest,
which he told us moments ago.
Yeah, and moments before that information was released,
Santos himself contacted our Eyewitness
News reporter Chantee Lans and relayed that information.
She joins us now live from Douglas in Queens.
Chantee, a lot of questions are why we're
just learning about this now.
Well, David and Shirleen, I spoke with Congressman George
Santos about a half hour ago.
Before those documents released, he
confirmed that his father, as you just mentioned,
and his aunt, his father, 59 years
old, his 71-year-old aunt, both from Queens,
actually secured his half a million dollar bond.
Their names, Gercino--
I want you to take a look--
Gercino Santos.
He's 59.
His aunt, 71, again, both from Queens.
Elma Santos Preven posted his bond.
Now he says his father is a union
worker, a painter of 30 years.
His aunt is a retired US Postal worker.
Now, Santos pleaded not guilty last month
before a federal judge in Central Islip, Long Island,
to a 13-count indictment.
Prosecutors say the freshman Republican rep duped donors,
stole from his campaign, lied to Congress about being
a millionaire, and collected unemployment benefits
that he didn't deserve.
Now, Santos has previously claimed
that family members made the payment and not
lobbyists or political donors.
Well, that proved to be true.
According to those court documents,
he initially said he would rather go to jail
than have the names released to protect his family's safety.
His attorney, Joe Murray, says Santos and his staff
have received harassing calls and messages,
including death threats.
The 34-year-old, who represents parts of Queens
here in Long Island, has refused to resign
and plans to seek a second term.
Meanwhile, the freshman rep is due back in court
in Central Islip on June 30th.
Live outside of his district office
in Douglas in Queens, Chantee Lans,
Channel 7 Eyewitness News.