US Representative George Santos (R-NY) speaks to the media as he leaves the Central Islip Federal Courthouse in Central Islip, New York, May 10, 2023.
Eduardo Munoz | Reuters
The identities of the people who guaranteed the $500,000 bond of Rep. George Santos in his criminal fraud case will be revealed Thursday at noon ET, a federal judge ordered Tuesday.
Judge Joanna Seybert’s order in U.S. District Court on Long Island came less than two weeks after the Republican lawmaker’s attorney argued that the identity of the bailiffs should be kept private because of “media anxiety ” surrounding the case.
Other sealed documents in the case, including Seybert’s entire written order, are also scheduled to be unsealed Thursday, according to a docket entry in Santos’ case.
Santos’ attorney, Joseph Murray, did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment on the judge’s order.
Santos, 34, pleaded not guilty last month to charges of defrauding his campaign supporters, lying to get unemployment benefits and making false statements on his congressional disclosure forms. After his first court appearance, Santos was released on a $500,000 bond backed by multiple guarantors, whose names are being kept under seal.
Several news outlets have asked the court to release those names, arguing that the public has a right to know their identities. The New York Times contended that the high bail amount “presents a clear opportunity for political influence,” especially since the charges against Santos “involve abuse of the political process for personal gain. “
A magistrate judge in the case sided with the news outlets earlier this month but gave Santos time to appeal the decision. Three days later, Murray asked to reverse that order, arguing that the guarantors would be subject to “attacks and harassment” if their identities were made public.
“These attacks are outrageous, anti-gay, anti-Republican and all around antisocial,” Murray wrote.
The hot climate has already contributed to one of the three guarantors “having a change of heart and withdrawal,” Murray wrote, adding that the other two would likely follow suit if their identities were released
Seybert’s order on Tuesday states that the soon-to-be-opened documents will be kept secret until Thursday at noon ET, “at which time the Defendant may move to modify the conditions of his release, should the Suretors seek relief withdraw from serving as sureties.”
Santos, who took office under a cloud of scandal in January, is the first openly gay representative of the Republican Party elected to Congress. He has vowed not to resign and is currently seeking re-election in 2024.
