by NEW YORK (AP) — Rep. George Santos’ campaign committee faces new questions from federal regulators after filing paperwork listing a new treasurer who says he never took the job.
The Federal Election Commission sent a letter to the Devolder Santos for Congress campaign on Thursday to clarify the switch. It is the latest investigation into the New York congressman, who has been caught fabricating many elements of his life story.
The letter said that the freshman Republican’s campaign “may not have included accurate, accurate, or complete information about the treasurer” on Wednesday’s paperwork, which listed Thomas Datwyler as the new treasurer and keeper of the records.
Five other political fundraising committees associated with Santos received the same letters after they too filed paperwork on Wednesday listing Datwyler as their new treasurer.
The campaign and committees have until March 2 to respond. If they fail to do so, the paperwork listing Datwyler as treasurer will be posted in the “unverified” section of the FEC website and the committees could face additional enforcement action.
If Santos’ campaign is found to have knowingly made a “materially false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or representation” on its paperwork, it could potentially face criminal charges, the FEC’s letter said.
A message was left requesting comment from a campaign attorney.
Devolder Santos for Congress on Wednesday filed a new organizational statement listing Datwyler as Treasurer and Keeper of Records, replacing Nancy Marks, who has held both positions since Santos first ran for Congress in 2020.
The switch came amid ongoing questions about irregularities in the commission’s financial reports and the source of Santos’ wealth.
Datwyler, through an attorney, Derek Ross, said he turned down the job and was unaware that he would be listed as treasurer on the campaign documents, which included his electronic signature, along with his email and postal addresses.
“On Monday, we informed the Santos campaign that Mr. Datwyler would not serve as treasurer,” Datwyler’s attorney, Derek Ross, said in a statement. “It appears there is a connection between that conversation and the documents (Wednesday) that we did not authorize.”
Under federal regulations, a campaign committee cannot raise or spend money unless it has a treasurer. The Treasurer collects all contributions – and only the Treasurer, or someone designated by the Treasurer, can approve campaign expenses.
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