LABOR COMMISSIONER ROBERTA REARDON'S IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE SENTENCING OF GEORGE SANTOS

"I have great empathy for what all the victims in this room have experienced – no one should have to endure such pain, and the strength of the victims today is truly admirable. I am here as head of the Department of Labor and the fiduciary to the New York State Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, both of which former Congressman George Santos repeatedly defrauded throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund is a critical safety net for workers who find themselves without employment through no fault of their own.

"During the pandemic, our Trust Fund was stretched to its limits, with over 1.6 million applications for benefits processed in just the first six weeks of what became the biggest economic crisis of a generation. Mr. Santos has admitted to fraudulently obtaining unemployment benefits at a time when millions of New Yorkers were truly struggling to make ends meet. His criminal actions demonstrate a callous disregard for his fellow New Yorkers and his constituents.

"It is within this context that Mr. Santos’ actions are particularly egregious. At a time when many New Yorkers were marooned at home, unable to earn income due to the pandemic, Mr. Santos wantonly filed for unemployment benefits. Week after week, he attested that he was unable to work through no fault of his own, all while earning a $120,000 salary. This wasn’t just a mistake or a misunderstanding, this was a conscious decision to defraud the system, made time and time again each time he re-certified for weekly benefits.

"While running for office, Mr. Santos deceived his constituents, telling them that he was trustworthy enough to handle their needs in Washington. He took an oath to protect and serve, knowing full well that he already exploited the unemployment insurance system for personal gain, essentially stealing directly from their pockets. Then, in a move that can only be described as the peak of hypocrisy, Mr. Santos audaciously co-sponsored the “Protecting Taxpayers and Victims of Unemployment Fraud Act,” shortly after being indicted on charges of committing unemployment fraud. Essentially, Mr. Santos is saying to the American people that they should do as he says, not as he does.

"As a public servant myself, I know firsthand that his betrayal of the public trust has an impact that extends far beyond the immediate financial loss to the Trust Fund. His actions undermine public trust in our safety nets, in those elected to represent them, and in government’s ability to protect people when they need it the most.

"Your Honor, as a steward of the public trust and public funds, I implore you to consider the full weight of Mr. Santos' actions. His crimes against the Trust Fund were not victimless. They have real, tangible impacts on the hardworking people of New York State. Thus, I strongly urge the court to impose the maximum sentence allowable. This would send a clear message that exploitation of our social safety nets, especially by public servants, will not be tolerated."