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Campaign fundraiser for Santos indicted for allegedly impersonating aide to Kevin McCarthy

Samuel Miele was charged with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft

Senior Culture Editor

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Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., leaves a meeting of the House Republican Conference at the Capitol Hill Club on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., leaves a meeting of the House Republican Conference at the Capitol Hill Club on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Samuel Miele — a former campaign fundraiser for Rep. George Santos — was indicted in New York and charged with four counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft for allegedly impersonating a top aide to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. 

According to CNBC, Miele “is accused of pretending to be McCarthy’s aide in order to get campaign donations for Santos from more than a dozen potential contributors, while also enriching himself via 15% commissions on each donation.” Per their reporting, he allegedly made this subterfuge known to Santos in September of 2022 via a letter in which he admitted to faking his identity to “a big donor,” adding that he was “high risk, high reward in everything I do.”

His lawyer, Kevin Marino, issued a quote to the outlet saying, “Mr. Miele is not guilty of these charges,” and that he “looks forward to complete vindication at trial as soon as possible.” Miele pleaded not guilty during his arraignment and was released on $150,000 bail. This comes only a few months after Santos himself was charged for wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds and making false statements. 

By Kelly McClure

Kelly McClure is Salon's Senior Culture Editor, where she helps further coverage of TV, film, music, books and culture trends from a unique and thoughtful angle. Her work has also appeared in Vulture, Vanity Fair, Vice and many other outlets that don't start with the letter V. She is the author of one sad book called "Something Is Always Happening Somewhere." Follow her on Bluesky: @WolfieVibes

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