Samuel Miele is charged with identity theft and wire fraud.
A former staff member of embattled Rep. George Santos has been indicted for impersonating an aide to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in order to raise funds for Santos.
Samuel Miele was charged with aggravated identity theft and four counts of wire fraud.
Miele was arraigned on the indictment in federal court in Brooklyn and pleaded not guilty. He was released on $150,000 bail.
Prosecutors say Miele sent emails and phone calls seeking campaign contributions while claiming to be a “high ranking aide to a member of the House with leadership responsibilities.”
Rep. George Santos arrives for an address by Israeli President Isaac Herzog during a joint meeting of Congress at the Capitol, July 19, 2023.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
While the indictment doesn’t identify the House member, sources told ABC News that is was Speaker McCarthy.
Miele was the subject of a similar Federal Elections Commission complaint in February.
Santos in May pleaded not guilty to a 13-count indictment accusing him of fraud, money laundering and theft of public funds.
Source: abc news
