Some federal insiders aren’t buying the embattled representative. George Santos claims dozens of $199.99 campaign expenses he filed were the result of a “database” error.
The newly elected Long Island Republican has come under a hail of criticism and investigations from the Nassau County district attorney and federal prosecutors. After he came clean to The Post about key details of his personal and professional life.
Additional revelations came this week that Santos’ campaign team reported 37 expenditures between April 2021 and February 2022 — including exactly $199.99 each. This figure is one percent less than the minimum amount required for receipts by federal law.
The $199.99 spending spree includes rooms at the Hyatt Orlando Hotel and W Hotel South Beach, as well as staples and office supplies at Target. Ubers, airline flights, Amtrak tickets, John F. There were meals at Kennedy Airport parking and Paco Ristorante in The Little Neck, Queens.
The Santos camp blamed paperwork problems.
“This reporting issue was the result of a database error and corrections were filed with the FEC. We believe the FEC was provided with accurate information,” a representative for Santos’ campaign emailed The Post.
But purchases and their differential rates are publicly available on the Central Election Commission website.
“I don’t believe it,” said Ann Ravel, a former FEC chair, of Santos’ description. “There are more costs than the $199 filed.
“If we had filed an amendment with the FEC to change it and the FEC admitted it was a database error, the FEC would have already changed the website,” he said.
“Any amended transactions and filings submitted by the committees will be reflected in the data through the FEC website,” said Christian Hillard, a representative of the FEC.
Santos’ biggest New York donors are taking a wait-and-see approach to the ballooning scandal.
“It’s complicated. I’m still sorting through my feelings,” said Josh Eisen, a businessman who donated $2,900 to both Santos’ primary campaign and his general election fund. I hope to be able to convey to people that they want to.”
John Catsimatidis, the billionaire owner of Gristedes supermarkets, reluctantly suggested that Santos cut the $2,900 check. “My daughter raised funds for him and I always support daughters,” she said.
Cats said the Santos situation made him “a little dizzy,” but he’s “taking the position of letting all the facts come out. Let the U.S. Attorney do his job and let’s find out the truth.
Santos also listed expenses north of $199, including Brooks Brothers expenses for more than $1,000 worth of clothing. Another $713 was for “food and beverages” for an event at The Breakers, an ultra-luxury hotel in Palm Beach.
Santos wined and dined his donors at trendiest New York and Washington, D.C. spots, including Il Mulino and Joe’s Stone Crab, to the tune of $660 and $710, respectively, FEC forms show.
