Rep. George Santos Confesses To Theft In Brazil In Deal To Drop Criminal Charges Against Him

On Thursday, Rep. George Santos (R-New York) signed a deal with Brazilian prosecutors that he would confess and pay $5,000 in fines and compensation in exchange for dropped criminal charges.

The New York Republican had charges filed against him in a suburb outside Rio de Janeiro on allegations he stole checks to buy clothing and other goods in 2008. Prosecutors say he also used a fake name in the store in Niterói.

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The merchant, Carlos Bruno Simões, attended the court hearing on Thursday. He said he was disappointed in the small amount Santos was forced to pay him.

“Honestly, he must have laughed. Because 14,000 Brazilian Reais is $2,000 – that’s one suit that he wears. But despite it all, I am happy that this chapter is closed,” Simões said.

This comes just a day after he pleaded not guilty to 13 felony charges in a separate case against him in the U.S. These charges mostly involve financial crimes, including taking donor money for personal gain and wrongfully claiming unemployment benefits.

Santos was released from U.S. federal custody on a $500,000 bond. On Twitter, he called the case a “witch hunt.” He also told reporters that he would clear his name and continue to run for reelection.

Santos has been a controversial figure since he was elected in November. In addition to the federal case in New York, Santos faces a probe by the House Ethics Committee, which announced in March that it was investigating him over his previous business practices, campaign finance expenditures and an allegation of sexual misconduct.