NEW YORK - The names of the people who guaranteed Rep. George Santos' $500,000 bond have been unsealed.According to court records unsealed Thursday, Santos has two relatives to thank for keeping the New York Republican out of jail.
The documents revealed that Santos' father, Gercino dos Santos, and an aunt, Elma Preven, were the two people who co-signed the $500,000 bond, which enabled his pretrial release as he awaits trial on federal charges of fraud, money laundering and theft of public funds.The Republican congressman, who represents communities on Long Island and in Queens, has lied about his professional accomplishments, his education and his family's history, statements which surfaced after he was elected last year.
He has admitted to U.S. Magistrate Judge Anne Shields’ ruling to release the names came after Santos’ lawyer, Joseph Murray, said the congressman would rather go to jail than subject his guarantors to the "great harm" that could come from public disclosure.
Under the bond agreement, the co-signers did not have to pay any money upfront, but would be held financially liable if Santos did not return to court.Identities of signatories are normally made public, but Murray pointed to the "media frenzy and hateful attacks" faced by Santos as a reason to make an exception.