Rep. George Santos (R-NY) requested that lawyers keep sealed the identities of the cosigners of his $500,000 bond in his criminal fraud case, saying that he would rather be detained than reveal their names.
Media organizations sent two separate requests to unseal the names of his backers, the Hill reported, but Santos’ lawyers have demanded the identities be kept private. The Republican representative’s attorney, Joseph Murray, argued that the “media frenzy” around the case could endanger the lives of his backers if their identities were to be made public.
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“If this Court is so inclined to unseal the sureties, we truly fear for their health, safety and well being,” Murray wrote.
The attorney stressed that if it were to be made absolutely necessary that their identities be released, they should be notified ahead of time so that they can withdraw their signature, at which point Santos will turn himself in.
“In fact, if the suretors are required to be identified, we respectfully request that the Court allow the suretors notice before the court releases their information so that they can withdraw as cosignors on the bond and Rep. Santos and I will appear before Your Honor forthwith,” Murray wrote.
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“My client would rather surrender to pretrial detainment than subject these suretors to what will inevitably come,” he continued.
Santos has so far avoided expulsion from Congress, despite his indictment. The House voted 221-204 last month to transfer the resolution to the Ethics Committee, preventing his immediate expulsion.
