LOOK AT THE MICS.
>> LOOK, THIS IS THE BEGINNING
OF THE ABILITY FOR ME TO ADDRESS
AND DEFEND MYSELF.
WE HAVE AN INDICTMENT.
WE HAVE INFORMATION THAT THE
GOVERNMENT WANTS TO COME AFTER
ME ON.
I’M GOING TO COMPLY.
I’VE BEEN COMPLYING THROUGHOUT
THIS ENTIRE PROCESS.
I HAVE NO DESIRE NOT TO COMPLY
AT THIS POINT.
THEY’VE BEEN GRACIOUS IN THERE.
NOW I’M GOING TO HAVE TO GO AND
FIGHT TO DEFEND MYSELF.
THE REALITY IS IT’S A WITCH
HUNT.
IT MAKES NO SENSE IN FOUR
MONTHS, FOUR MONTHS, FIVE
MONTHS, I’M INDICTED.
YOU HAVE JOE BIDEN’S ENTIRE
FAMILY RECEIVING DEPOSITS FROM
NINE FAMILY MEMBERS RECEIVING
MONEY FROM FOREIGN DESTINATIONS
IN TO THEIR BANK ACCOUNTS.
IT’S BEEN YEARS OF EXPOSING, A
LOT OF YOU HERE HAVE REPORTED ON
THEM AND YET NO INVESTIGATION IS
LAUNCHED IN TO THEM.
I’M GOING TO FIGHT -- I’M
JUST -- I’M GOING TO FIGHT MY
BATTLE.
I’M GOING TO DELIVER.
I’M GOING TO FIGHT THE WITCH
HUNT.
I’M GOING TO TAKE CARE OF
CLEARING MY NAME AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO DOING THAT.
HOLD ON.
I WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
SOME OF YOU GUYS TO ASK SOME
QUESTIONS IN AN ORDERLY FASHION
AND WE’LL START HERE.
GO AHEAD, RACHEL.
>> WHY WOULD YOU APPLY FOR
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS WHEN YOU
HAD A JOB MAKING $120,000 A
YEAR?
>> RACHEL, THIS IS PART OF MY
DEFENSE.
IT’S INACCURATE INFORMATION
AROUND I WILL GET TO CLEAR MY
NAME ON THIS DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
IT WASN’T VERY CLEAR.
I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHERE THE
GOVERNMENT IS GETTING THEIR
INFORMATION BUT I WILL PRESENT
MY FACTS.
>> PROSECUTORS SAY YOU GOT OVER
$20,000 IN UNEMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS, SIR.
HOW IS THAT ACCEPTABLE?
>> MA’AM, LIKE I SAID, MY
EMPLOYMENT WAS CHANGED DURING
THE TIME.
I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHERE THE
GOVERNMENT IS COMING FROM.
I’LL PRESENT MY DEFENSE.
>> WHAT EVIDENCE DO YOU HAVE
THAT THEY DON’T HAVE?
>> I HAVE PLENTY OF EVIDENCE
THAT WE’LL SHARE WITH THE
GOVERNMENT IN THIS CASE TO MAKE
SURE THAT I CAN DEFEND MY
INNOCENCE.
>> ARE YOU PLANNING TO RUN FOR
RE-ELECTION?
>> YES, I AM.
>> WHY SHOULD ANYBODY BELIEVE
YOU NOW?
>> I WILL PROVE MYSELF INNOCENT
AND GO FROM THERE.
RE-ELECTION IS A LONG TIME FROM
NOW.
>> $750,000, THEY SAID YOU
REPORTED THAT WRONGLY.
DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENT TO THAT?
>> LIKE I SAID, I’LL GIVE
THEM -- BE DELIVERING ALL THE
FINANCES OF MY COMPANY,
DELIVERING ALL MY FINANCES TO
THEM TO DISPEL THEIR ACCUSATIONS
AGAINST ME.
>> AGAIN, YOU WILL NOT RESIGN?
>> I WILL NOT RESIGN.
>> DID YOU TAKE CAMPAIGN
DONATIONS AND USE THAT MONEY TO
BUY SUITS?
>> NO, I DID NOT.
>> YOU THINK YOU’LL WIN
RE-ELECTION?
>> THAT’S NOT UP FOR ME TO KNOW.
ELECTIONS ARE TRICKY.
IT’S UP TO THE PEOPLE.
I TRUST THEM TO DECIDE.
>> CONGRESSMAN, WHAT DO YOU
THINK WILL MAKE PEOPLE BELIEVE
YOU THIS TIME AROUND?
>> I’VE ASKED MANY TIMES.
I WANT TO BE JUDGED BY THE WORK
I DO IN THE BODY.
I STATE COMMITTED TO THAT.
>> ARE YOU HEADED TO WASHINGTON
NOW?
>> YES.
I HAVE TO GO BACK AND VOTE.
TOMORROW WE HAVE ONE OF THE MOST
CONSEQUENTIAL VOTES IN THIS
ACCORDING, WHICH IS A BORDER
BILL AND I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO
VOTING ON IT. >> [QUESTION INAUDIBLE]
>> [QUESTION INAUDIBLE]
>> I’M NOT GOING TO ADDRESS THE
SPEAKER.
I APPRECIATES EVERYBODY’S
PATIENCE.
I RESPECT YOU GUYS, SPOKEN WITH
A LOT OF YOU GUYS.
I HAVE THE INTENTIONS OF
CONTINUING THAT OPEN DOOR.
SOME OF YOU FROM THE HILL KNOW
HOW TO FIND ME.
SOME OF YOU HERE FROM THE
DISTRICT DON’T HAVE A HARD TIME
FINDING ME.
I APPRECIATE LEADERSHIP FOR
BEING PATIENT AT THIS TIME AND
FOR ALLOWING THE PROCESS TO PLAY
OUT.
I THINK THIS IS ABOUT INNOCENT
UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.
THIS STARTS.
I HAVE MY RIGHT TO FIGHT TO
PROVE MY INNOCENCE AS THE
GOVERNMENT HAS A RIGHT TO FIGHT
TO TRY TO FIND ME GUILTY AND
WHATEVER CHARGES.
>> WE HAVEN’T -- YOU’RE BEING
ACCUSED FOR A LONG TIME.
>> BECAUSE THE MEDIA IS NOT JURY
OR THE JUDGE.
SO I WILL PRESENT THAT TO THE
JURISTS AND TO THE JUDGE AND
THIS COURTHOUSE.
>> AND TO THE CONGRESS.
>> IF CONGRESS REQUESTS IT, I’LL
PRESENT IT TO THEM AS WELL.
>> WILL YOU NEGOTIATE A PLEA?
>> LOOK, IT’S HARD --
>> I’M ADDRESSING ONE OF YOUR
COLLEAGUES HERE.
I -- SO AS USUAL, JODY, I DO MY
BEST TO BE A POSITIVE PERSON.
LIFE IS ALREADY AS BAD AS IT
GETS OUT THERE.
SO -- I’M FINE.
>> YOU BELIEVE YOU’RE INNOCENT?
>> I BELIEVE I’M INNOCENT.
>> [QUESTION INAUDIBLE]
>> LOOK, THE WAY I LOOK AT IT,
IT’S BE THE CHAIRMAN OF A
COMMITTEE IN A COUPLE OF YEARS
IF YOU LOOK AT THE STANDARDS OF
CONGRESS, THE SENATE.
>> [INAUDIBLE QUESTION].
>> ARE YOU ACCUSING ME OR ALLOW
ME TO CLEAR MY NAME?
>> CONGRESSMAN, I’M STILL --
>> HOW DID YOU FIRST LEARN ABOUT
THE CHARGES AGAINST YOU AND CAN
YOU TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS OF
SURRENDERING?
DID THEY ARREST YOU?
>> NO.
IT WAS VERY PEACEFUL.
THESE GUYS DID A PHENOMENAL JOB.
WE CLEARLY CAME UNDER YOUR NOSES
AND YOU DIDN’T SEE US COME IN
TODAY AND NOW WE’RE LEAVING.
WE’RE ADDRESSING YOU GUYS.
HAD ALL THE INTENTION IN THE
WORLD TO BE OUT HERE.
I’M GOING TO KEEP FIGHTING FOR
WHAT I BELIEVE IN AND KEEP
FIGHTING TO REPRESENT ANY
DISTRICT AND TO DELIVER RESULTS
AND NOW HAVE TO FIGHT TO DEFEND
MY INNOCENCE AND I’M GOING TO DO
THAT.
>> GOVERNOR HOCHUL SAID YOU
SHOULD RESIGN AND PUT YOUR
DISTRICT OUT OF ITS MISERY.
WILL YOU DO THAT?
>> GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS ENTITLED
TO HER OPINION.
I DON’T REPRESENT HER.
SHE’S NOT MY CONSTITUENT.
>> I SAW YOUR FACE IN COURT
TODAY.
YOU LOOKED PRETTY STRESSED.
WHEN I SAW YOU SIT DOWN AND THE
JUDGE FIRST STARTED SPEAKING,
WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH YOUR
MIND?
WHAT ARE YOU FEELING IN COURT?
>> WHEN IT’S YOURS FIRST TIME
EXPERIENCING SOMETHING OF THIS
NATURE, ANYBODY WOULD SHOW SOME
STRESS.
I DON’T BELIEVE WAS STRESSED.
I DID THE BEST I COULD TO KEEP
MY COMPOSURE.
I WAS FINE.
AGAIN, THIS HAS BEEN AN
EXPERIENCE FOR A BOOK OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS.
HERE’S WHAT WE’LL DO.
[INAUDIBLE QUESTIONS].
>> GUYS, THAT IS INFORMATION
YOU’LL NEVER GET BECAUSE THAT IS
THE MEDIA’S -- YOUR INTENTION IS
TO HARASS THEM AND MAKE THEIR
LIFE MISERABLE.
YOU’RE NOT GETTING THAT.
>> Martha: OH, BOY.
THERE YOU HAVE IT.
VERY INTERESTING NEWS CONFERENCE
JUST NOW FROM GEORGE SANTOS WHO
IS THE FIRST-TIME MEMBER OF
CONGRESS WHO WAS ALMOST RIGHT
OUT OF THE GATE AFTER THE
ELECTION STARTED HAVING STORIES
THAT WERE UNCOVERING WHAT WERE
PRO PORTED TO BE MASSIVE AMOUNTS
OF LYING ABOUT HIS PAST, WHERE
HE WENT TO SCHOOL, THAT HE WAS
AN INVESTMENT BANKER, REAL
ESTATE PROPERTIES THAT HE DID OR
DIDN’T OWN.
HE’S BEEN INDICTED ON 13 COUNTS
THAT INCLUDE RIPPING OFF
CAMPAIGN DONORS AND GETTING
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS EVEN
THOUGH HE HAD A JOB ENINCLUDING
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF COVID MONEY,
IS ONE OF THE CHARGES HERE.
LYING TO CONGRESS IS ANOTHER ONE
AS YOU JUST HEARD FROM
REPRESENTATIVE SANTOS.
HE PLEADED NOT GUILTY.
HE’S NOW FREE ON $500,000 IN
BOND.
HE DID HAVE TO TURN OVER HIS
PASSPORT.
HE HAS RESTRICTED TRAVEL AS PART
OF THIS AGREEMENT.
YOU HEARD HIM.
HE SAID I’M GOING BACK TO
CONGRESS BECAUSE WE HAVE A VERY
IMPORTANT BILL TOMORROW, THE
BORDER BILL, WHICH WE’LL TALK
ABOUT MORE IN JUST A MOMENT.
WITHIN THE FIRST TWO SENTENCES,
HE SAID THIS WAS A WITCH HUNT,
THAT IT WAS FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS
LONG.
HE SAID YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING
INTO JOE BIDEN AND HIS FAMILY.
THEN AT THE END, HE SAID THIS IS
LIKE SOMETHING FOR A BOOK.
YOU HAVE TO WONDER WHERE ALL OF
THIS IS HEADED.
BUT THESE ARE ALLEGED CRIMES AND
AN INDICTMENT AS WE MENTIONED.
HE CERTAINLY HAS -- WILL GET HIS