George Santos is refunding more money than he’s raising

Embattled Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) issued more money in refunds than he took in from donors last quarter, calling into question his ability to run for reelection next year.

His campaign also disclosed debt from last year that was not properly reported at the time — or in filings since.

Santos’ campaign refunded more than $35,000 to donors between July and September while taking in only $1,704 in new donations, according to his latest campaign finance report. His campaign also spent more than $42,000 over the period, $20,000 of which was classified as legal expenses. That left him with less than $23,000 in his campaign account.

The filing also for the first time disclosed more than $120,000 owed to vendors seemingly dating back to 2022 for expenses including election night catering and a “mail fundraising” program. Campaigns are allowed to take on such debts, but they are supposed to be reported on the filing for that quarter as well as every subsequent filing. A line in Sunday’s report said Santos’ current treasurer only became “aware of prior debt in the current period.” His treasurer did not immediately respond to an inquiry about when the debt was incurred.

Sunday’s filing comes as Santos faces legal trouble related in part to his handling of campaign funds and past reports with the Federal Election Commission.

Federal prosecutors filed a superseding indictment earlier this week to charge Santos with 23 federal charges, including identity theft, money laundering and lying to the FEC. He has repeatedly said that he is still running for reelection and told reporters on Wednesday that he planned to “prove his innocence,” although court documents indicate prosecutors have engaged in plea talks.

Santos’ former campaign treasurer, Nancy Marks, pleaded guilty earlier this month after prosecutors charged that she signed off on FEC reports that said Santos had made a $500,000 loan to his campaign — even though she knew no such loan existed.

The now-indicted congressman’s campaign claimed in formal reports that Santos loaned the campaign more than $700,000 during his 2022 election bid. It remains unclear how much, if any, of that money was actually loaned, but in the second quarter, Santos’ campaign paid him back $85,000 using money raised by donors.

He did not list any loan repayments to himself during the third quarter.

A host of challengers have jumped in to run against Santos in the Long Island district which also voted for Biden in 2020. The campaign of Kellen Curry, the only Republican challenger who has filed with the FEC so far, said it raised $149,000 in the third quarter.

Among Santos’ Democratic challengers are Nassau County legislator Joshua Lafazan, former State Senator Anna Kaplan and activist Zak Malamed, all of whom had outraised Santos through the end of the second quarter.

Former Rep. Tom Suozzi, whose seat Santos won after the Democrat left Congress for an unsuccessful run for New York governor, also entered the race in recent days. As of the end of September, Suozzi had $58,000 left in his campaign account from his time in Congress.