A campaign aide to Representative George Santos who impersonated Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s former chief of staff was charged with wire fraud and identity theft in a federal indictment unsealed on Wednesday.
Federal prosecutors said the aide, Samuel Miele, was behind “fraudulent fund-raising” emails and phone calls that were sent and made to more than a dozen potential campaign contributors.
In his solicitations, Mr. Miele, 27, claimed to be a “high-ranking aide to a member of the House with leadership responsibilities,” the indictment said.
When Mr. Miele successfully obtained campaign contributions, he received a 15 percent commission.
He was arraigned on Wednesday morning in federal court in Brooklyn and pleaded not guilty, according to John Marzulli, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in the Eastern District of New York.
Persons:
George Santos, Kevin McCarthy’s, Samuel Miele, Miele, John Marzulli
Organizations:
U.S, of
Locations:
Brooklyn, Eastern, of New York