Alleged serial liar George Santos had backing from FTX executives

[icymist]

Two executives at FTX — the now-bankrupt crypto exchange run by suspected fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried — maxed out donations to alleged chronic liar and newly sworn-in Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., during the 2021-22 election cycle, according to FEC filings reviewed by SFGATE.

Records show that Claire Watanabe, an FTX senior executive, and Ramnik Arora, head of product, each gave the maximum allowed individual contribution of $5,800 to Santos’ campaign in late June and early August, respectively. Arora’s FEC filings list a residence in the Bay Area, while Watanabe gave an address in Long Beach. Neither has been accused of criminal wrongdoing in FTX-related matters.

FTX co-CEO Ryan Salame — who is based in Massachusetts and New York, according to filings — also maxed out a donation to Santos. While Salame also gave millions of dollars to countless political action committees and politicians, Watanabe and Arora have much more limited donation histories. Watanabe appears to have directly given to four politicians during the past election cycle; Arora appears to have directly given to just three. Along with donating to Santos, both donated to failed House candidate (and Salame’s girlfriend) Michelle Bond, a crypto proponent, as well as Carrick Flynn, an “effective altruism” activist who lost a House bid in Oregon despite receiving millions in campaign funds from Bankman-Fried. (Watanabe’s other donation was to Karoline Leavitt, a 25-year-old failed House candidate in New Hampshire.)

It’s not immediately clear why Watanabe and Arora gave money to Santos, who doesn’t seem to have publicly discussed crypto or effective altruism; despite his colorful Twitter history, he has rarely posted about crypto. One of the few exceptions came on Dec. 12, when Santos tweeted of Bankman-Fried, “We must hold this man accountable for his crimes.” He later added, “SBF getting arrested a day before he was going to testify in congress is more proof that corruption has taken over the federal government. January 3rd couldn’t come fast enough.”

https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/george-santos-ftx-executives-donations-17746642.php

[GreenWave]

1. I think alleged is inappropriate at this late date.

[CottonBear]

2. Did Santos decided to run on his own or was he chosen to run by Russia/Crypto/mafia?

Where did he find various financial backers find Santos, or, did they find him?

Santos first ran in the 2020 congressional election, which he lost.

Who is behind this fraudulent Congressman?