Former Congressman George Santos, a once-rising Republican star whose political career was marred by scandal, pleaded guilty on Monday to federal charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The plea marks a dramatic reversal for the disgraced ex-lawmaker, who was poised to face trial next month on a 23-count indictment that accused him of a series of financial crimes and deceit.
Santos, 36, who represented New York's 3rd Congressional District, admitted in court to defrauding donors, misusing campaign funds, and lying about his personal finances on official House disclosure forms. His plea deal requires him to serve a minimum of two years in prison and to pay nearly $373,750 in restitution. He also faces the forfeiture of over $205,000. His sentencing is scheduled for February 2025, and he could receive up to 22 years behind bars.
"I deeply regret my conduct," Santos told the court during his plea hearing. "I fully accept responsibility for my actions, and I understand that my actions have betrayed the trust of my supporters." Outside the courthouse, Santos acknowledged the gravity of his misdeeds, saying, "I allowed ambition to cloud my judgment. Pleading guilty is a step I never imagined I'd take, but it's the right thing to do. It is my own recognition of the lies I told myself."
Santos' legal troubles stem from allegations that he engaged in a wide range of fraudulent activities during his 2022 midterm campaign, including the misuse of Covid-19 unemployment benefits and embezzling campaign funds for personal use. Prosecutors revealed that they were prepared to present over 500 pieces of evidence, including cellphone data, financial records, and information from Santos' iCloud account, to prove their case against him.
The guilty plea brings an end to a nearly two-year saga that saw Santos ascend to Congress under a cloud of suspicion and deceit. He was elected to represent parts of Long Island and Queens in 2022, but his tenure was short-lived. In December of the same year, Santos was expelled from the House of Representatives by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 311 to 114, making him only the sixth lawmaker in U.S. history to be expelled from the chamber.
The charges against Santos included seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds, and two counts of making materially false statements to the Federal Election Commission. In October, he was hit with an additional 10 charges, including allegations that he stole donors' identities, ran up fraudulent charges on their credit cards, and conspired with his former campaign treasurer to falsify donation totals.
Santos initially denied all charges and insisted that he would not take a plea deal, even declaring his intention to seek reelection in 2024. However, as the evidence mounted and his legal team negotiated behind the scenes, Santos ultimately decided to plead guilty. His decision to accept the plea deal comes after his campaign fundraiser, Sam Miele, and former campaign treasurer, Nancy Marks, both pleaded guilty to related charges last year.
Marks admitted to conspiring with Santos to commit wire fraud, make false statements to the FEC, and commit aggravated identity theft. Miele, who had raised money for Santos' campaign, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in connection with impersonating a top aide to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy while soliciting donations for Santos. Miele also admitted to charging donors' credit cards for personal expenses.
Santos' downfall has been swift and severe, particularly given the shocking revelations about his personal and professional life that surfaced shortly after his election. The New York Times published a scathing exposé in December 2022, revealing that Santos had fabricated large parts of his resume and biography, including false claims of employment at prestigious firms like Citigroup and Goldman Sachs.
The Times' report, which questioned nearly every aspect of Santos' life story, set off a media firestorm and led to multiple investigations into his conduct. Despite his attempts to defend himself, Santos could not escape the mounting evidence against him, ultimately leading to his expulsion from Congress and his guilty plea in federal court.
As he awaits sentencing, Santos faces the possibility of spending the next two decades in prison, a far cry from the political career he once envisioned. His case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of political ambition gone awry, and the legal and ethical responsibilities that come with public office.
