—The Idaho Statesman

George Santos raises $0 for comeback bid, vows to run volunteer campaign

NEW YORK — Ex-Rep. George Santos vowed Monday to run an all-volunteer political comeback campaign after a new campaign filing showed he didn’t raise or spend any money in the first weeks of his supposed congressional bid.

“I’m going to do this all with volunteers,” the disgraced former lawmaker told the New York Daily News. “Confidence, I have. Capacity, I have.”

Brushing aside questions about the sparse filing, Santos said he wants to avoid negative media stories stemming from alleged campaign finance misdeeds by raising or spending campaign cash.

“If I raise money, you’re going to say I’m doing it to grift or to fund my lavish lifestyle or whatever you want to write,” Santos said.

Santos plans to run as an independent against incumbent Republican Rep. Nick LaLota in the New York 1st Congressional District seat.

His campaign committee filed its first official document with the Federal Election Commission Monday. It revealed zero dollars in spending and zero dollars in donations.

To make the fall ballot, Santos needs to collect 3,500 valid signatures from voters in the East End district. He can start collecting the signatures Tuesday in a window that extends until May 15.

Santos, who is awaiting trial on federal fraud, theft and campaign finance charges, announced last month that he would switch districts to run against LaLota.

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