George Santos pressed to name new campaign treasurer

The Federal Election Commission is pressing Rep. George Santos to appoint a new campaign treasurer to replace Nancy Marks, or risk a ban on accepting or making political contributions.

In a letter to Santos (R-Nassau/Queens) on Tuesday, the FEC said he had 10 days from Marks' resignation as treasurer to appoint a new one for his main congressional committee, Devolder-Santos for Congress.

"Failure to appoint a treasurer will result in the inability of the committee to accept contributions and make disbursements," Jaime Amrhein, an FEC assistant branch chief, wrote in the letter, which was addressed to an Elmhurst, Queens, residence where George Santos' sister, Tiffany Santos, lives.

Santos must respond to the FEC by March 21, the agency wrote.

The FEC on Wednesday sent similar letters to Santos' GADS leadership political action committee, along with the joint fundraising committees Devolder Santos Nassau Victory Committee and the Santos D'Esposito Nassau Victory Committee. 

Marks, of Shirley, who has served as treasurer of numerous political campaigns, said she resigned as treasurer of Devolder-Santos for Congress on Jan. 25.

On Jan. 26, FEC filings by Santos' campaign named Thomas Datwyler as the new treasurer. Datwyler's attorney  said Datwyler was not Santos' campaign treasurer and had turned down the job offer.

FEC filings show Santos' end-of-year report for 2022 was signed by a new treasurer, Andrew Olson, on Jan. 31. No other information about Olson was provided.

Also on Wednesday, Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx) filed a formal complaint with the House Ethics Committee alleging a former Santos aide had impersonated House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) while soliciting donations during Santos' campaign for Congress in the 3rd Congressional District. 

Another new complaint, filed with House Ethics and the Office of Congressional Ethics, asks for an investigation into whether Santos' marriage was a scheme to aid a woman's immigration bid, The New York Times reported Thursday. 

Tom Rust, a spokesman for the House Ethics Committee, said by email he had "no comment."

Representatives for Santos and the Office of Congressional Ethics, an independent House entity created to review misconduct allegations and refer its investigations to the House Ethics Committees, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday.

Santos, 34, is facing federal, state and local investigations after revelations that he lied about his personal and financial background.

Among the complaints to the FEC was one by the nonprofit Campaign Legal Center alleging Santos hid the true sources of funds he lent his campaign, misrepresented the campaign’s spending and used its funds for personal expenses. 

Santos has stepped aside from two House committees.

By Scott Eidler

scott.eidler@newsday.com@ScottEidler

Scott Eidler is a deputy editor for the towns department at Newsday. Scott has worked at Newsday since 2012 and previously covered municipal government and education.