Republican George Santos has already had to vacate his seat in Congress. By pleading guilty in court, he can avoid a trial. But now he faces a long prison sentence.
Former Republican Congressman George Santos speaks to reporters as he leaves court in New York.
Peter Foley / EPA
(dpa/Reuters)
Former Republican congressman George Santos, who was thrown out of Congress because of a series of lies and bizarre appearances, has pleaded guilty to fraud and identity theft. According to consistent media reports, this means the 36-year-old can avoid a trial that was supposed to begin next month. However, a prison sentence seems certain.
Santos is accused of a number of charges, including money laundering and embezzlement of public funds. From the very beginning, Santos’ rise to the federal political stage was overshadowed by allegations of fraud and deception. Among other things, he falsified a large part of the CV with which he presented himself to voters in 2022. As the public furor surrounding his persona continued, more and more lies and bizarre episodes surrounding Santos came to light.
The guilty plea in New York State almost certainly means that Santos will go to prison after his sentencing, which is scheduled for February. Since his arrest, Santos has been free on $500,000 bail. After pleading guilty, he told reporters as he left court that his ambition had clouded his judgment and led him to make unethical and illegal decisions.
Santos now faces a minimum of two years in prison and a maximum of around 22 years. As part of a deal with the judiciary, Santos has waived his right to appeal any sentence under eight years. He also agreed to pay more than $370,000 in restitution and expressed remorse in court.
The 35-year-old Santos served as a representative of a New York district in the US House of Representatives for about a year until his expulsion in early December 2023 and presented himself as a supporter of former President Donald Trump. The plenum excluded him with a clear vote because of the overwhelming allegations.
