A 2022 contribution of $1,000 from embattled Rep. George Santos to 19th Congressional District candidate Marc Molinaro has been donated to charity.
Molinaro has been under fire from populist watchdog groups and the national Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for keeping the donation and at the same time joining fellow Republicans in condemning Santos for alleged biographical fabrications and demanding his resignation.
“George Santos’s dishonesty has eroded his ability to represent his neighbors and serve in Congress,” Molinaro said Wednesday. “I don’t see how he can continue. He should resign.”
Molinaro has donated the $1,000 contribution his campaign received from the Santos campaign to a local charity in the 19th District, spokesman Daniel Kranz said.
The donation went to the Southern Tier Veterans Support Group in Binghamton, its president, Benjamin Margolius, confirmed by phone Thursday.
The Veterans Support Group received a check for $1,000 on Wednesday, dated Dec. 31, 2022, and made out to “Marc for US,” Margolius said.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee confirmed that “Marc for US” is the name of Molinaro’s 2022 campaign committee and that the check received by the Southern Tier Veterans Support Group was sent by Molinaro, DCCC press secretary Nebeyatt Betre said Thursday.
“‘Marc for US’ is definitely his committee,” Betre said. “The check definitely came from him.”
A certain mystery continues to surround the contribution and its donation, Betre added.
“This check was dated on the last day of 2022, but the charity Molinaro sent it to didn’t receive it until yesterday,” Betre said. “He never said anything about this when he was asked about it earlier. Even though there were stories, he didn’t say anything about it. It’s weird.”
The Southern Tier Veterans Support Group nevertheless was pleased to accept the donation, according to Margolius. The Group serves veterans in the Susquehanna River Region of New York’s Southern Tier.
“We really appreciate the help,” Margolius said. “We’re very happy he chose us to donate the money to. We could use it. We help veterans in 14 counties.”
Donations made to candidates who win their elections are perpetual contributions with a lifespan of two to four years, according to the New York State Board of Elections. There are no filing date limits, but there are monetary contribution limitations.
Santos is facing numerous complaints and investigations at the local, state, and national level for potentially criminal behavior - including the FBI’s investigation into Santos’ role in “allegedly raising money for a veteran’s dying service dog in a GoFundMe scheme – then ghosting with the cash,” according to the DCCC.
Molinaro and other New York state Republicans on Jan. 13 urged Santos to step down following allegations that he lied about his personal, educational and professional credentials to win his election last November. Molinaro said Santos has lost all credibility and integrity with his constituents and colleagues.
Several New York Republicans who received campaign contributions from George Santos have returned or donated Santos’ contributions, according to the DCCC.
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