Judge turns down George Santos’ request to nix some charges ahead of fraud trial

Former U.S. Rep. George Santos connected Friday mislaid a bid to get free of portion of nan criminal lawsuit against him arsenic he heads toward proceedings connected charges that see defrauding run donors.

U.S. District Joanna Seybert turned down Santos’ petition to disregard charges of aggravated personality theft and theft of nationalist money — successful all, 3 of nan 23 charges against nan New York Republican.

Prosecutors and Santos’ lawyers declined to comment.

Prosecutors person accused Santos of a scope of crimes — among them lying to Congress astir his wealth, collecting unemployment benefits while really working, and utilizing run contributions to salary for specified individual expenses arsenic designer clothing. He pleaded not guilty to a revised indictment successful October.

The aggravated personality theft charges pertain to allegations that Santos utilized run donors’ in installments paper accusation to make repeated contributions they hadn’t authorized. Prosecutors opportunity he besides tried to hide nan existent root of nan money — and evade run publication limits — by listing nan donations arsenic coming from immoderate of his relatives and associates, without their assent.

Santos’ lawyers based on successful tribunal filings that nan aggravated personality theft charges were invalid because, successful nan defense’s view, nan allegations amounted only to overcharging in installments paper accounts that had been willingly provided to him.

Prosecutors disputed that argument. They said successful filings that Santos hadn’t conscionable “used” nan in installments paper accusation but “abused it, pinch circumstantial intent to defraud” successful bid to make his run coffers look fuller.

The theft of nationalist costs complaint relates to nan alleged unemployment fraud.

Santos’ lawyers said nan complaint improperly mixed aggregate alleged criminal schemes and transactions. Courts person said successful different cases that specified operation isn’t allowed for various reasons, including nan anticipation that jurors could convict connected nan complaint while believing a suspect blameworthy of only portion of it.

Prosecutors successful Santos’ lawsuit said nan theft of nationalist costs complaint against him alleges “a azygous continuing scheme.”

The erstwhile Congress personnel is slated to spell connected proceedings successful September successful Central Islip, connected New York’s Long Island.

In April, he dropped his longshot bid to return to Congress arsenic an independent successful New York’s 1st Congressional District, connected Long Island.