Ex-Rep. George Santos seeks sentencing delay to record podcast episodes
Expelled former Congressman George Santos says he is running low on money and asked a judge to delay his sentencing on federal fraud charges so he can make more episodes of his podcast, “Pants on Fire.” The New York Republican has hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of fines to pay and pledged he could make money to pay it off through the podcast.
Prosecutors say that Santos didn’t present any evidence for his claim that he had a little more than $1,000 in assets or that the podcast would bring financial success. As of Wednesday, Jan. 8, all four of the episodes posted to YouTube have less than 1,000 views.
Instead, prosecutors pointed to evidence that Santos has made a lot more money than that since leaving Congress. They cite more than $400,000 through his account on the video-sharing app Cameo.
They added that Santos made another $400,000 from participating in a documentary after the House expelled him in December 2023.
Santos is just the sixth member in the history of the House of Representatives to be expelled by a vote from his colleagues.
Even before taking office, however, it was becoming clear that he had exaggerated details of his professional and personal life.
Santos pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft charges related to fraudulent campaign donations. He also pleaded guilty to taking campaign funds for personal use.
He faces anywhere between two and 22 years in prison.
Lauren Boebert joined Cameo. Can members of Congress have side hustles?
Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., made a Cameo account for what appears to be less than 24 hours. For that short period, fans of the Colorado representative could ask her a question or get a personalized birthday greeting for a starting fee of $250.
It’s unlikely Boebert would have been able to keep the account, as House rules clearly forbid members from selling their influence. The House Ethics Manual states members cannot receive payment of money or a thing of value for an appearance, speech or article.
The Office Code of Conduct for the House prohibits members from receiving any benefit “by virtue of influence improperly exerted from the position of such individual in Congress.”
In other words, you’re not allowed to make money off being a member of Congress.
There is an entire chapter on earned outside income in the House Ethics Manual. Long story short, it states – “the fundamental purpose of the restrictions and limit is to ensure that Members and staff do not use the influence or prestige of their position with the House for personal gain, and to preclude conflicts of interest.”
As mentioned, members can’t receive anything of value for making an appearance or speech.
They are barred from holding just about any second job except for practicing medicine.
They can write a book as long as the Ethics committee approves the publishing contract.
If a member is able to successfully navigate all those rules, their outside earned income limit is $31,815.
Of course, once members leave, those restrictions go away, and some have taken advantage of the fame they gained while serving. Perhaps one of the best examples is George Santos.
Santos joined Cameo after he was expelled from the House. He describes himself as a former congressional icon and is highly rated with 4.89 out of 5 stars. Santos charged as much as $500 per video and said he once made more money in a week on the platform than he did in an entire year in Congress, which has a $174,000 annual salary.
Matt Gaetz joined the platform after resigning from Congress and dropping out as President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general nominee. For $500, Gaetz will send a holiday greeting, birthday wish or a pep talk.
Of course Gaetz and Santos are former members, so they’re free to make all the videos they want, while Boebert is still obligated to follow the rules of the House.
Biden highlights his legacy, passes torch to Harris in DNC address
In a speech lasting nearly an hour on the first night of the Democratic National Convention (DNC), President Joe Biden defended his record as he passed the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris. And protesters took to the streets outside the DNC calling for an end to the war in Gaza. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Aug. 20, 2024.
Biden highlights his legacy, passes torch to Harris in DNC address
Former President Barack Obama is slated to be among the speakers on night two of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Tuesday, Aug. 20, as the party gears up for Vice President Kamala Harris to officially accept the nomination for president.
Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, were in the building Monday night, Aug. 19 for the first night. The vice president gave a surprise speech on the stage thanking President Joe Biden for his “historic leadership.” She then spoke of unity within the party.
“People from every corner of our country and every walk of life are here, united by our shared vision for the future of our country, and this November, we will come together and declare with one voice, as one people, we are moving forward,” Harris said.
And while the convention is largely focused on Harris, the first night was centered on President Biden as the party paid tribute to his decades-long political career. The crowd chanted in support of the president, giving him a 4-minute standing ovation before his speech. Biden took a moment to thank his supporters before reiterating his endorsement of Harris.
“I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my career, but I gave my best to you,” the president said. “For 50 years, like many of you, I have given my heart and soul to our nation … It’s been the honor of my lifetime to serve as your president.”
First lady Dr. Jill Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also spoke on the first night of the DNC.
“I wish my mother and Kamala’s mother could see us,” Clinton said. “This is our time, America. This is when we stand up. This is when we break through!”
Harris and Walz will both be back on the campaign trail in Wisconsin Tuesday, Aug. 20. That’s also where the Republican vice presidential pick Ohio Sen. JD Vance will be as former President Donald Trump continues his blitz across battleground states. Trump was in Pennsylvania Monday, Aug. 19, and will hold a rally in Michigan Tuesday afternoon.
Protesters attempt to breach barricade at DNC
While the Democratic Party rallied in unison inside Chicago’s United Center, it was a different story on the outside. Protesters broke through a fence set up by police near the site of the DNC as thousands took to the streets to protest the war in Gaza.
As the larger group marched, a few dozen broke away and tore down pieces of the security fence. They chanted “end the occupation now” and then “the whole world is watching!” just as anti-Vietnam war protesters did during the 1968 convention in Chicago when police clashed with protesters on live television.
On Monday, Aug. 19, police in riot gear formed a wall and arrested at least four people. Large protests are expected to continue over the next several days outside the DNC.
U.S. government says Iran was behind Trump campaign hack
A joint statement on Monday from the FBI, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said the breach was part of Iran’s plans to interfere with the 2024 presidential election.
The FBI briefed former President Trump on their preliminary findings after news organizations reported receiving documents believed to have come from an account belonging to a senior Trump campaign official. Those turned out to be from a hacker.
Vice President Harris’ campaign said hackers were unsuccessful in their attempts against the Biden-Harris campaign.
Israel says bodies of 6 hostages retrieved in overnight operation
Israel said it has recovered the bodies of six hostages taken by Hamas during the Oct. 7 terror attack. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel’s security agency said in a joint statement Tuesday the bodies were retrieved during an overnight military operation in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “hearts are aching over the terrible loss” and thanked those involved in the recovery efforts.
This comes as Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Israel has accepted a proposal to bridge differences that are preventing a temporary cease-fire and the release of an unknown number of hostages. Now the U.S. and other world leaders helping to mediate the negotiation talks are urging Hamas to accept the proposal.
On Tuesday, Aug. 20, Blinken will be leaving Israel and traveling to Egypt and Qatar, where Hamas has a political office.
It’s unclear if Hamas will sign off on the deal, as one of their stipulations has been a permanent truce, not just a temporary pause in fighting.
The high-stakes talks come as fears rise that the war could escalate into a bigger regional conflict, potentially by an attack on Israel led by Iran and its proxy groups.
Santos pleads guilty to federal charges, faces 6 years in prison
Former New York Congressman George Santos has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. He’s agreed to pay more than $370,000 in restitution and could spend at least six years in prison for stealing from donors and using campaign contributions to pay for personal expenses.
The plea comes as his federal fraud case — which led to the Republican’s expulsion from Congress — was just weeks away from going to trial.
He’s now set to be sentenced in February.
Former head of Warner Music submits $4.3B bid for Paramount
Like any good TV show or movie, the saga of the sale of Paramount has a last-second plot twist. According to reports, billionaire media mogul Edgar Bronfman Jr., the former head of Warner Music Group, has submitted an offer of $4.3 billion to take control of Paramount Global — the parent company of CBS, MTV and Paramount Pictures.
Last month, Skydance Media entered a deal to purchase the conglomerate for $8 billion, but that deal came with a catch: a 45-day window where Paramount could field other offers. Bronfman entered the fray just as that deadline was about to expire on Wednesday, Aug. 21.
Now Paramount has the option to extend that period. If it does, that would be a sign Paramount is seriously thinking about Bronfman’s offer.
Day 1 of Democratic National Convention, Biden slated to speak tonight
The Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago as President Joe Biden is among the names scheduled to speak the first night. And Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Israel preparing for what he calls a ‘decisive moment’ in cease-fire talks. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, Aug. 19, 2024.
Day 1 of Democratic National Convention, Biden slated to speak
The stage in Chicago for the start of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) that kicks off Monday. The four-day event will conclude with Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz formally accepting the Democratic nominations for president and vice president.
Part of the agenda for day one includes special tributes planned to honor the opening night’s headline speaker, President Joe Biden. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is also slated to speak at the DNC Monday night.
Other speakers you’ll see over the next few days include former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former first lady Michelle Obama.
Mayor Brandon Johnson said Chicago is “prepared and ready” and security has been beefed up inside and outside the convention as thousands of Gaza war protesters are planning to descend on the city.
The Democratic Party has released some of its key policy points it expects to address over the next four days. Those include raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, making the child tax credit permanent and IVF and abortion protections.
Ahead of the DNC, Harris and Walz spent time in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. Former President Donald Trump will be back in Pennsylvania Monday after also spending time over the weekend in the Keystone State.
A new ABC News poll has Harris leading Trump overall 50 to 45%. However, Trump is leading Harris on key issues for voters: the economy and immigration.
Former Congressman George Santos to plead guilty to federal charges
Former Congressman George Santos, R-N.Y., is expected to plead guilty to federal charges Monday, Aug. 19 afternoon. It’s a reversal of his previous plea of not guilty.
Santos, who was expelled from the House of Representatives, faces 23 felony charges, including defrauding donors, lying about his finances and needlessly accepting unemployment benefits, among other things.
A guilty plea would avoid a trial, which is scheduled to begin next month. Sources close to the matter told The New York Times Santos is expected to give a statement acknowledging the crimes he has agreed to plead to.
Blinken: ‘This is a decisive moment’ in cease-fire talks
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Israel Monday, meeting with top Israeli officials before traveling to Egypt for ongoing negotiations to reach a cease-fire and hostage release agreement. This is his ninth trip to the region since the Israel-Hamas War began.
“This is a decisive moment,” Blinken said at a press conference in Tel Aviv. “Probably the best, maybe the last opportunity to get the hostages home, to get a cease-fire and to put everyone on a better path to enduring peace and security.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has expressed “cautious optimism” that a deal can be reached, while Hamas is accusing Israel of stalling efforts to reach a deal in order to continue striking inside Gaza.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will begin accepting applications for individuals requesting “parole in that place” that would allow migrant spouses without legal status to apply for a green card and eventually get on a path to citizenship.
To be eligible, the spouses must have been continuously in the U.S. for at least 10 years, not pose a security threat or have a disqualifying criminal history, and have been married to a U.S. citizen before June 17 — the day before the program was announced. They must also pay a $580 fee to apply and fill out an application explaining why they deserve humanitarian parole and providing a list of supporting documents proving how long they have been in the country.
The Biden administration says about 500,000 people could be eligible for “parole in place” plus about 50,000 of their children.
Egg prices on the rise again as bird flu impacts supply
Egg prices are on the rise — again. According to the Consumer Price Index, egg prices were up by nearly 20% in July, and economists say inflation is not the issue this time.
Rather, it’s believed to be the ongoing bird flu outbreak limiting the supply of eggs.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the average rate for a dozen large, grade A eggs topped $3 in July for the first time in more than a year. July also marked the third month egg prices rose on an annual basis, a reversal after a year of relative decreases.
Perdue recalls over 167K pounds of chicken after wire found in packaging
The products are the Perdue Simply Smart Organic gluten-free breaded chicken breast nuggets, the breaded chicken breast tenders, and the Butcher Box organic free fully frozen-cooked breast chicken nuggets. All have a “best-if-used-by date” of March 23, 2025.
George Santos trial begins; attorneys say they are worried about juror bias
Amid mounting public scrutiny, former New York Rep. George Santos, R, is scheduled to appear in a Long Island courtroom Tuesday, Aug. 13, to face charges including wire fraud, money laundering and making false statements to Congress regarding his finances. His legal team has expressed concerns about potential juror bias stemming from widespread negative media coverage.
Santos, ousted from Congress following a House ethics investigation that found evidence of misuse of his official position for personal gain, has pleaded not guilty. His defense is requesting that potential jurors be questioned about their views on Santos due to extensive publicity, including more than 1,500 news articles and depictions in media such as a “Saturday Night Live” sketch.
His lawyers argue that the media exposure could compromise his right to a fair trial, suggesting that jurors complete a detailed questionnaire and that their identities remain anonymous to protect the trial’s integrity.
Prosecutors contend these requests are tactics to delay the trial, pointing out that Santos has actively engaged with the media, shaping his public persona. They are also seeking to introduce evidence of Santos’ previous fabrications about his educational and professional background, asserting that these lies are integral to understanding the criminal charges against him.
The trial is set to proceed with approximately 850 potential jurors already summoned for early September.
George Santos could pay himself $87k yearly rate to run for Congress again
Former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., announced he’s running for Congress again just four months after he was expelled. The House ousted Santos for lying about nearly every aspect of his life, and according to a House Ethics Committee report, stealing money from his campaign and creating fictitious loans to solicit even more campaign donations.
However, Santos isn’t running for his old seat in New York’s 3rd Congressional District just east of Queens, he’s running in New York’s 1st Congressional District to challenge the Republican who led the charge to oust him, Rep. Nick LaLota.
“Tonight, I want to announce that I will be returning to the arena of politics and challenging Nick for the battle over #NY1,” Santos posted on X Thursday, March 7. “I look forward to debating him on the issues and on his weak record as a Republican. The fight for our majority is imperative for the survival of the country.”
“George Santos is one of the most bizarre people I have ever met. And I think much of what George Santos does is not serious, but we’re going to take it seriously,” Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., told the news outlet NY1. “I suspect this primary campaign, this primary challenge from Santos is retaliation for that.”
Santos can run again even though he was expelled and currently faces 23 federal charges. He is scheduled to stand trial for those charges in September.
The Constitution has three requirements to run for office, including being 25 years old and being a citizen for at least seven years. Santos can also change districts because the Constitution only requires that candidates live in the state they want to represent, not the district.
It’s also worth noting that Federal Election Commission rules allow him to pay himself a salary at the rate of $87,000 a year while he’s a candidate. The candidate salary is meant to help low- to middle-income Americans run for political office. Some other calculations that factor in may reduce the amount and he’ll have to reduce his candidate salary for every dollar he makes in outside income.
However, if Santos achieves an unlikely victory, the House could theoretically kick him out again, but he’d have to commit another crime separate from those he’s already accused of.
Lawmakers may call him a “serial fraudster,” but they won’t submit him to double jeopardy.
Santos was replaced in the House by Democrat Tom Suozzi who won a special election in February.
“I couldn’t resist,” Kimmel said as he introduced the segment on his show. “So I sent George through Cameo a number of different ridiculous requests like you could tell him what you wanted to say. I’ll be parceling these out over the next week. I didn’t say they were from me. I just wrote them and sent them to find out ‘Will Santos Say It?’”
According to the lawsuit, Santos did 14 Cameos that Kimmel submitted under “fake user profiles,” five of which have allegedly been aired on Kimmel’s show.
“Hey, Brenda,” Santos said in one of the Cameos. “I wanted to congratulate you on successfully cloning your beloved schnauzer, Adolf. I know it was a lot of trials and tribulations, but you finally did it; now you get to enjoy Adolf and be happy, so give him a belly rub for me. Muah.”
“I can tell you that by the end of this week that is actual factual, I will have made more money in seven days than I would have made in an entire year in Congress,” Santos said during an interview with CBS New York.
According to the lawsuit, Santos alleges Kimmel committed copyright infringement, fraudulent inducement, breach of contract and unjust enrichment. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York also lists ABC and Walt Disney Co. as co-defendants.
“By creating fake user profiles and submitting fake requests, Kimmel falsely represented himself as multiple different users seeking Santos’ personalized cameo videos for personal use,” the lawsuit said.
Before filing the lawsuit, Kimmel reportedly denied Santos’ request for $20,000 to use the videos on his show. Santos then sent Kimmel a cease-and-desist letter in December 2024. Kimmel’s team has not responded to the media’s request for comment.
Santos’ empty seat in Congress is not going to stay empty for much longer as Democrat Tom Suozzi, N.Y., who previously held the seat before taking a run for governor, is set to be sworn in on Feb. 28, after he beat out his Republican opponent Mazi Pilip in a special election.
Speaker Johnson says Suozzi victory is not a bellwether for November
Democrat Tom Suozzi won a special election in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 13, giving Democrats another seat in the House of Representatives and further shrinking the Republican’s majority. Once Suozzi is sworn in, the House will have 219 Republicans and 213 Democrats.
The new balance of power means Republicans will only be able to lose two votes any time they want to pass legislation along party lines.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., gave multiple reasons why Republican Mazi Melesa Pilip lost, and said her loss is not indicative of what will happen in the 2024 general election this November.
“That is in no way a bellwether of what’s going to happen this fall,” Johnson told reporters. “We are absolutely convinced. I’ve been to 17 states in the last 12 weeks. I’m telling you, whether I’m out west, on Long Island, the deep south, mid-South, Midwest, it doesn’t matter. There is a fervor among Americans and it is bipartisan. People know that this country is on the wrong track.”
Johnson said Suozzi won for multiple reasons: Suozzi previously held the seat, Democrats spent $15 million on the race and bad weather on the day of voting hurt Republican turn out.
“The result last night is not something in my view that Democrats should celebrate,” Johnson said. “They spent about $15 million to win a seat that President Biden won by eight points, they won it by less than eight points. Their candidate ran like a Republican. He sounded like a Republican talking about the border and immigration.”
Democrats said they believe Suozzi won because he has a proven ability to work across the aisle. They also said their party was far more productive when they had the House majority from 2020 to 2022.
“I think that’s the lesson here is whatever Donald Trump says is where House Republicans are going to land,” Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., said. “And so from our perspective, people like Tom Suozzi and members who have a track record on these issues have leaned in and will continue to lean in on being problem-solvers, working in a bipartisan way. That’s what the public wants us to do.”
“The American people want a change,” Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif said. “They want a Congress that actually does something. This is a completely do-nothing Congress in the hands of the Republicans and the American people want to have us work on kitchen table, economic issues.”
Republicans lost this seat after former Rep. George Santos was expelled, and they lost other seats that remain vacant due to retirements and resignations, including former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s.
Democrat Tom Suozzi wins New York House seat to replace George Santos
Democrats have flipped a seat in the House after a special election in New York on Tuesday, Feb. 13, to replace former Republican Congressman George Santos, who was expelled last year. Democrat Tom Suozzi defeated Republican Mazi Pilip in New York’s 3rd Congressional District, narrowing the GOP’s already slim majority in the chamber of 219-213.
“Despite all the lies about Tom Suozzi and the Squad, about Tom Suozzi being the godfather of the migrant crisis, about ‘Sanctuary Suozzi,’ despite the dirty tricks, despite the vaunted Nassau County Republican machine: We won,” Suozzi said during his victory speech.
During Suozzi’s victory speech, a protester accusing him of supporting genocide in Gaza ran on stage with a Palestinian flag but was quickly removed according to reports.
According to NBC reporting, Suozzi could seek to be sworn into the House of Representatives as early as Thursday, Feb. 15. If Suozzi is not sworn in on Thursday, Feb. 15, he may have to wait until the House gets back from the extended recess for President’s Day.
House GOP impeaches Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas: The Morning Rundown, Feb. 14, 2024
In their second attempt, House Republicans vote to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. And a driver is killed after crashing into the emergency room of a Texas hospital, leaving others critically injured. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024.
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The GOP had the votes Tuesday night, Feb. 13, after failing to pass the measure on Tuesday, Feb. 6, thanks to the return of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., who had been absent while seeking blood cancer treatment. The articles of impeachment passed by a vote of 214-213, with three Republicans siding with Democrats to oppose impeaching Mayorkas. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said that Mayorkas fueled “the worst border catastrophe in American history.”
While a spokesperson for DHS said the impeachment was done “without a shred of evidence or constitutional grounds.” The issue now heads to trial in the Democrat-controlled Senate, which is unlikely to vote to remove Mayorkas from office.
Tuesday’s vote marked only the second time in U.S. history that the House has impeached a cabinet member. The last time was in 1876.
Democrat Tom Suozzi wins NY election to replace George Santos
Voters battled through a winter storm to make it to the polls. With 93% of the votes in, Suozzi won 54% compared to 46% for Pilip.
Suozzi is returning to the House after giving up his seat in 2022 to run for Governor. He previously served three terms.
Driver dead 5 others injured after vehicle crashes into Austin ER
The driver was killed after crashing into an Austin, Texas, emergency room, while five others were left injured in the incident. Footage taken by a bystander right after the crash happened shows hospital staff and responders clearing the lobby and moving the injured through a cloud of smoke while the sounds of screeching tires continue in the background.
According to police, the crash occurred shortly after 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, and does not appear to have been intentional. The crash left five people hurt. Two children and one adult were transported to a local children’s hospital. One of the kids is said to be in critical condition. Another adult was taken to a different area hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries. The fifth person injured was treated on-site at the emergency room.
According to the chief medical officer at the Austin hospital, eight others in the emergency room who were not injured in the crash were transported to other hospitals in the area so the emergency room could regroup after the incident.
Uber, Lyft, Doordash drivers to walk off job, hold rallies at airports
SpaceX postpones launch of private company’s moon lander
If you are looking to see a video of the latest launch of a private company’s moon lander, you’ll have to wait at least one more day. SpaceX is postponing Wednesday morning’s Feb. 13 launch of its Falcon 9 rocket carrying Intuitive Machines of Houston’s robotic lunar lander, Odysseus. SpaceX said a liquid methane temperature issue was the cause of the delay.
The launch is now scheduled for early Thursday morning, Feb. 15, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A Friday, Feb. 16 launch is also possible if another issue arises.
Should this mission be successful, unlike last month’s attempt by another private company, it will be the first American spacecraft to land on the moon’s surface since 1972.
Record spending on significant others expected this Valentine’s Day
It’s Valentine’s Day 2024. While The Beatles famously sang, “money can’t buy me love,” that won’t stop many from spending on their loved ones today. According to the National Retail Federation, people are expected to spend a record $14.2 billion this year on their significant others, or $101.84per person. Total spending is expected to reach $25.8 billion, with an average of $185 per person.
The top gift of choice? Candy, followed by greeting cards, flowers, and an evening out. Over half of Americans said they plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, while about a third of those who aren’t still said they want to mark the occasion by either getting together with single friends or treating themselves to something special.