George Santos: Congressman charged with fraud, money laundering

Republican congressman George Santos has been charged with fraud, money laundering and theft of public funds, in a 13-count federal indictment.

The New York representative turned himself in to authorities on Wednesday, as news of the charges emerged.

Mr Santos, 34, has been plagued by scandal since he took office in January and much of his biography was found to be fabricated.

The first-term congressman has not yet commented on the charges.

Speaking to the Associated Press earlier on Wednesday, Mr Santos said the charges were "new to me".

The 20-page indictment alleges the Republican participated in an elaborate fraud scheme.

According to federal prosecutors, he defrauded those who gave him money for his House of Representatives campaign, instead using the funds for personal expenses including luxury designer clothing and credit card payments.

He faces seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives.