Santos' Top Staffer Sent 'Menacing' Texts To Journalist: Report

LONG ISLAND, NY — A top representative for disgraced Rep. George Santos is accused of sending "menacing" Tweets to a reporter and will be disciplined, according to a report.

Rep. George Santos pleaded not guilty in federal court on Wednesday afternoon to a 13-count indictment. The first-term congressman was charged with 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

According to The Daily Beast, Vish Burra, director of operations for Santos, ignited a barrage of Tweets against freelance journalist Jacqueline Sweet this week, just 48 hours after Santos was released from custody.

Sweet is a former Patch employee.

The Daily Beast said that Burra responded to Sweet, who was talking about courthouse proceedings. Burra reportedly Tweeted: “I knew you were looking into my eyes! Jacqueline couldn’t keep her eyes off me!" The Daily Beast said. Next, according to the post, Burra, when someone commented he "should have hit [Sweet] with that venom," Burra responded, “I think she wants me to hit her with something else!” The Daily Beast post added.

He also reportedly Tweeted that liberal women are "obsessed" with him, the report said.

Sweet was unable to respond to a request for comment. Burra did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Naysa Woomer, communications director for Santos, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Patch, but told The Daily Beast: "Threats of violence of any kind will not be condoned. The tweets have been deleted and disciplinary action will be taken.”

Sweet has written a number of scathing stories about Santos over the past year, including a report from a disabled veteran who said Santos took $3,000 from a dying dog's GoFundMe.

Sweet also reported that in January, Nassau County Republican leaders called for Santos to resign, citing his lies about his resume and background as a descendant of Jewish Holocaust survivors.

Santos described himself as Jewish several times during his campaign for the 3rd Congressional District seat, but researchers at multiple news outlets failed to discover any evidence of Jewish heritage, and reported that his grandparents were born in Brazil, and did not flee persecution in Europe, as Santos claimed.

Santos was released this week on a $500,000 bond.

As he left the courthouse in Central Islip, a defiant Santos told reporters the case is a "witch hunt." Santos said he will not resign and is still planning to run for re-election next year.

"I have no desire not to comply at this point," he said.

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

"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."

Prosecutors accuse Santos of lying to supporters who believed their cash would support his campaign, but instead bought the soon-to-be U.S. Congress member luxury designer clothes.

"It makes no sense that in four months, I'm indicted," Santos said. "I'm going to fight the witch hunt. I'm going to take care of clearing my name."

The congressman said he has "plenty of evidence" that will be shared with the government.
Santos told reporters that he'll "keep fighting for what I believe in. I'm going to keep fighting to represent my district. I'm going to keep fighting to deliver results, and now I have to keep fighting to defend my innocence."

His next scheduled court appearance is June 30.

With reporting by Jerry Barmash.