Report: US Representative Santos admits fraud in Brazil

Scandal-ridden US MP George Santos has admitted his guilt in a fraud case in Brazil, according to a media report. In an agreement with the responsible prosecutor’s office, Santos pleaded guilty to defrauding a Rio de Janeiro administrative officer of $1,300 in 2008, CNN reported, citing a memo from the prosecutor’s office. In exchange for the victim’s confession and compensation, Santos would be spared a trial, it said. In December, Santos told the New York Post newspaper that he had not criminalized himself in any country in the world.

Santos has been under fire for quite some time. He allegedly made up large parts of his resume – including information about his professional career and his origins. Last week it was announced that the FBI is investigating the New York State MP for alleged misappropriation of donations.

Despite repeated calls for his resignation, Santos has so far ruled out such a move. However, he relinquished his positions in several committees. Santos was not elected to his first term in the House of Representatives until November. In polls at the end of January, however, 78 percent of voters in his New York constituency said Santos should resign. If he vacated his seat, Republicans could lose the constituency, which has been more Democratic in the recent past, in midterm elections. That would make the extremely narrow majority they have had in the House of Representatives since January even smaller. (sda/dpa)