Rep. George Santos Returns To Court After Not-Guilty Plea

LONG ISLAND, NY — U.S. Rep. George Santos is set to return to court Friday for the first time since pleading not guilty in May to charges that include money laundering and making false statements to the House of Representatives.

Santos, 34, is scheduled to go before U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert in a Long Island courthouse at noon for the hearing, which will focus on the timing of future court dates as the case against the Republican congressman moves forward.

According to a 13-count indictment unsealed last month, Santos was taken into custody after surrendering in Long Island to money laundering and fraud charges.

The embattled Republican also stands accused of receiving unemployment benefits while he had a job, theft of public funds, and lying to Congress, according to the indictment.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges, including seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, two counts of making false statements to the House, and one count of theft of public funds.

Santos faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

"The allegations in the indictment charge Santos with relying on repeated dishonesty and deception to ascend to the halls of Congress and enrich himself," U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said in a news release last month.

After pleading not guilty at the federal courthouse in Central Islip last month, Santos was released from custody on a $500,000 bond, officials said.

Santos' bond was paid for by Gercino dos Santos and Elma Preven, his father and aunt, according to documents from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.

Santos is a New York Republican who won a U.S. House seat in November 2022. He has faced increased scrutiny amid accusations and his own admission that he fabricated parts of his background during his campaign.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.