George Santos on Trial for Campaign Lies
- George Santos, a Republican member of Congress from New York, is facing trial for alleged campaign fraud.
- Federal prosecutors are seeking to include past false statements made by Santos as evidence in the September trial.
- The outcome could significantly impact Santos's political career and public image.
NEW YORK (AP) — As the fraud trial of former U.S. Representative George Santos approaches, his legal team is requesting a partially anonymous jury due to the intense media scrutiny surrounding the case. In court filings, Santos' lawyers argued that only the judge and attorneys should know the identities of jurors, citing concerns over their safety, privacy, and impartiality. Santos, who represented parts of Queens and Long Island, was expelled from Congress in December 2022 and previously attempted a return as an independent candidate. Santos' attorneys emphasized that the extensive negative media coverage could lead to harassment or intimidation of jurors, potentially undermining the trial's fairness. They expressed concern that public ridicule might influence jurors' ability to make decisions based solely on the evidence presented in court. The prosecution, led by U.S. Attorney Breon Peace, has not commented on the jury request but is preparing to introduce evidence of Santos' alleged campaign lies. Prosecutors aim to present evidence of Santos' false claims regarding his educational background and employment history, asserting that these fabrications are closely linked to the criminal charges he faces. They argue that such evidence is crucial for establishing Santos' state of mind during the alleged offenses. Additionally, they seek to prevent Santos from claiming he is a victim of selective prosecution, citing his public dismissal of the case as a "witch hunt." The two parties are scheduled to reconvene in federal court in Central Islip on August 13, as preparations for the trial continue.