Republican Representative-elect George Santos might be facing a legal proceeding after authorities in Brazil expressed their intent to renew fraud charges against him.

Prosecutors involved in the matter noted that they will request Santos' formal response. The fraud charges were pertaining to a 2008 incident involving a stolen checkbook.

Rio de Janeiro's prosecutor's office's spokeswoman said Santos' whereabouts are now identified, adding that a formal request will be sent to the U.S. Justice Department to notify him of the charges.

The controversy surrounding the Republican representative-elect has taken another turn ever since the inconsistencies in his resume were reported, including questions about his financial dealings.

Some of the "embellished" details on his resume include his educational background and work experience before dipping into politics.

The fraud charges against Santos were way back in 2008 in Brazil. It was a month before his 20th birthday, and he decided to enter a clothing store in Brazil, spending around $700 using a stolen checkbook and a false name, according to court records.

In August 2009, Santos admitted the fraud to the shop owner on a popular social media website in Brazil, Orkut.

Santos noted that he knew he had made a mistake but "wanted to pay."

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Fraud Charges in Brazil

In September 2011, a judge approved the charge and ordered Santos to respond to the case.

He was already in the United States by October and was working at Dish Network in College Point in the New York City borough of Queens, according to company records.

A lawyer for Santos, Joe Murray, noted that he is in the process of "engaging local counsel to address" the complaint against Santos.

The Brazilian prosecutors' projected next move would be to file a petition when the courts reopen and request Santos to respond to the charges against him.

Santos could receive up to five years in prison with a fine if the Republican Congress member is found guilty of the fraud charges against him.

He will be tried in absentia if Santos does not present a defense in the Brazilian case.

The spokesperson for the prosecutor's office did not detail whether Brazil would seek Santos' extradition.

Republican Party on George Santos

Santos is still facing calls for his resignation from several senior figures within the Republican Party before he even enters the floor of the chamber.

Former ranking member of the House ways and means committee, Kevin Brady of Texas, said that Santos must "consider resigning."

Outgoing Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said that the "unacceptable" embellishments of Santos' resume should be subjected to a probe.

The representative-elect admitted to having lied about having Jewish ancestry, working for at least two Wall Street banks, and finishing a degree from Baruch College.

The college noted that it had no record of Santos' attendance.

Santos has yet to address the questions regarding his personal income.

It was earlier reported that Santos spent more than $40,000 on air travel alone.

In his 2020 annual salary, he declared earnings of $55,000 in salary, commission, and bonuses.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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