Rep. George Santos, the indicted New York Republican, is willing to go to great lengths, even risking imprisonment, to protect the secret identities of the individuals who cosigned his $500,000 bond, enabling his release before trial. This revelation comes from Santos’ lawyer, Joseph Murray, who passionately argued against unsealing the names of the bond suretors.
Murray firmly believes that exposing them to the public eye could lead to severe consequences, such as job losses and physical harm.
“Rather than subjecting these suretors to the inevitable consequences, my client would rather surrender to pretrial detainment,” Murray wrote in a letter addressed to U.S. Magistrate Judge Anne Shields.
He even requested the court to grant the suretors enough time to withdraw their support if their names were unsealed. In response to the lawyer’s request, Judge Shields kept the suretors’ names off the public court docket.
Murray further emphasized the gravity of the situation, revealing that both he and his client have been facing a barrage of threats, including death threats, as well as harassing calls and messages. The attorney recounted a distressing incident where he received a call demanding to know, “Who paid Santos’ bond?” With concern, Murray expressed his fears that Santos’ critics are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to attack those who supported his release.
“The fact, that someone emailed me my own letter back to me soon after I filed it with the Court, tells us that they are just ready and waiting to pounce. A few hours later on Friday, June 2, 2023, I received a call wherein a male voice just shouted what sounded like, ‘who paid Santos’ bond?’ Again, they are just waiting to pounce on the sureties,” Murray recounted in his letter.
Prosecutors took no position on the request on Friday. Similarly, the Justice Department took no stance in the recent high-profile case of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, who sought to keep the names of his bond sureties confidential.
On Monday, Santos’ resistance came as no surprise. The New York Republican assured reporters on the day of his arraignment that they would “never get” the names of the three sureties.
“Your intention is to go harass them and make their life miserable,” Santos told reporters.
Santos, who represents parts of Queens and Long Island, pled not guilty on May 10 to a 13-count indictment, encompassing allegations of deceiving donors, embezzling campaign funds, providing false information to Congress about his wealth, and fraudulently obtaining unemployment benefits. Scheduled to appear in court again on June 30, the defiant 34-year-old has refused to resign and remains steadfast in his bid for a second term.
As the legal proceedings continue, prosecutors have yet to express a stance on the unsealing request made by news outlets. Last week, representatives from various media organizations, including The New York Times and The Associated Press, urged Judge Shields to release the names of Santos’ bond suretors, citing a compelling public interest in transparency during these proceedings.
Adding to the pressure, the Republican-led House Ethics Committee addressed Santos on May 16, demanding the identification of the individuals who cosigned his bond.
“In order to properly review this allegation, at this time, we request the following: 1. Identify the individuals who co-signed the appearance bond,” the committee request, signed by the chairman, Republican Rep. Michael Guest.
Murray disclosed that Santos initially had three financially responsible cosignors lined up, but one withdrew, and the other two failed to appear at his arraignment. Consequently, alternative confidential arrangements had to be made to ensure Santos’ release, as detailed by the attorney.
The unfolding drama surrounding Santos and the enigmatic bond co-signors continues to captivate the public, raising questions about what secrets lie behind their identities and why such extreme measures are being taken to shield them.
Information for this briefing was found via the AP News, The Hill, and the sources mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
