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George Santos, recently expelled from Congress amid almost two dozen criminal charges, reached a plea agreement with federal prosecutors in New York on Monday. He pleaded guilty to two federal counts: wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. According to the judge, the plea deal could result in an estimated sentencing range of 6 to 8 years. Santos is set to be sentenced on February 7 at the federal court in Central Islip.
The former congressman’s legal troubles have deepened since his removal from office, highlighting a dramatic fall from grace after his brief and controversial political career. His expulsion and subsequent guilty plea mark a significant downturn, as he now faces a potentially lengthy prison sentence.
The New York Times writes disgraced former GOP congressman from New York will soon be behind bars.
While Mr. Santos’s plea will allow him to avoid a trial on a total of nearly two dozen charges — including wire fraud, money laundering and stealing public funds — it all but ensures he will face at least two years in prison. The trial was set to begin next month.
The plea offers a coda to the tale of a political underdog who catapulted to Congress less than two years ago and watched his career quickly unravel as his seemingly endless series of falsehoods came to light. Mr. Santos, long given to a pattern of deceit that he has yet to fully account for, repeatedly insisted that he would defend his innocence in court, only to reverse course as the opportunity approached.
The criminal investigation into Mr. Santos began after The New York Times reported that much of his biography and aspects of his campaign’s finances appeared to have been fabricated.
Additional reporting from The Times and other news organizations revealed a bizarre array of lies: from inane claims of playing volleyball in college to fundamental deceptions about his education, résumé and cultural heritage.
Santos has long been a thorn in the sides of New York Republicans. Last November, the five Republicans representing The Big Apple called for the oddball Republican to be kicked out of Congress.
In a dear colleague letter, the lawmakers say “this issue is not a political one, but a moral one” and “we agree it would set a precedent, but a positive one.”
And if anyone thought the Republicans would end their push after the Ethics Committee announced late Tuesday that it would soon take its next steps in a Santos investigation, think again.
“A new precedent that holds members accountable for lying to voters about their life to be elected to the House of Representatives is one I’m in favor of,” D’Esposito responded when asked if he would change his plans after the ethics announcement.
“Higher standards are what Americans want to see. Those who claim to be fighting the DC status quo — this vote is an opportunity for positive change.”
Santos had long denied being guilty of the federal charges. He had been accused of using his donors’ identities to make unauthorized charges on their credit cards, falsifying campaign finance reports, committing money laundering, and other related offenses.
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