A federal judge in New York has agreed to unseal the identities of the three individuals who co-signed the $500,000 bond for Rep. George Santos. The judge, U.S. Magistrate Judge Anne Shields, made the decision on Tuesday. However, the names of the guarantors will remain sealed until Friday at noon, giving Santos time to appeal the ruling.

Several media organizations had requested the disclosure of the co-signers’ identities, which prompted the judge’s decision. Santos’s defense attorneys had filed a motion to keep the records sealed, arguing that revealing the guarantors’ names could put them at risk of distress, job loss, and physical harm.

Santos’s spokesperson has not commented on the judge’s decision, and Santos himself has not publicly responded. The House Ethics Committee is also seeking the co-signers’ names as part of an ongoing inquiry. However, Santos’s legal team has not provided that information, according to court filings.

Santos was released on a $500,000 bond after being indicted on multiple criminal charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, and making false statements to the House of Representatives. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, claiming they are politically motivated. The House had voted to refer the matter to the Ethics Committee, temporarily preventing Santos from facing expulsion.