Cover photo: George Santos exits the federal courthouse after pleading guilty (Credit – Matt Meduri)
The tortuous and unprecedented political saga of ex-Congressman George Santos (R-Queens) has reached its (likely) penultimate development as the disgraced politician pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft at the Eastern District of New York Courthouse in Central Islip on Monday afternoon.
The plea comes after months of Santos insisting that he would not accept a plea deal.
Santos famously flipped NY-03 by a nine-point margin in the 2022 midterms. The shift was seen as tectonic for northern Nassau and Queens.
Santos had not had the chance to function in Congress without being mired in scandal, as a December 2022 New York Times report raised questions about his background. Soon thereafter, it was revealed Santos had greatly embellished his personal net worth, his education, his business ventures, his heritage, and the experiences of his family, even bizarrely claiming that his mother was present in downtown Manhattan during the September 11 attacks, despite her not even being in the country on that date.
A May 2023 indictment slapped Santos with thirteen charges: 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 House of Representatives.
An October 2023 superseding indictment pinned more charges on the disgraced Congressman, who still held office at the time. It consisted of ten additional charges, including one count of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, two counts of wire fraud, two counts of making materially false statements to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), two counts of falsifying records submitted to obstruct the FEC, two counts of aggravated identity theft, and one count of access device fraud.
Charges alleged that Santos used donors’ credit card numbers for personal expenditures, such as Botox, nights out in Atlantic City, and designer apparel. He also allegedly reported fake loans to entice wealthy donors into making campaign contributions and diverted campaign funds for personal use.
Santos survived a November expulsion vote just after the superseding indictment was released.
After a lengthy investigation from the House Select Subcommittee on Ethics, which produced overwhelming evidence against him, Santos was expelled from Congress in December in a 311-114 vote spearheaded by Congressman Nick LaLota (R, NY-01). The historic expulsion is one of just six in the country’s history, the first for a Republican, and the first without a criminal conviction.
The expulsion led to a February special election that saw former Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) win back his old seat over Nassau County Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip (R-Great Neck) by about eight points.
Santos, while maintaining his innocence, quickly pivoted to a primary run against LaLota, before switching to an Independent campaign for NY-01. He suspended his bid in April, citing his concern of ticket-splitting votes between him and LaLota and “handing the House to the Dems.”
Santos was originally slated to go to federal trial in early September, but now avoids trial altogether, with a sentencing date slated for February 7.
Santos entered the Eastern District Court at around 3:00p.m. on Monday and returned outside about an hour later. Santos greeted the press and tearfully read a pre-written statement.
“This plea is not just an admission of guilt. It’s an acknowledgement that I need to be held accountable like any other American that breaks the law,” said an emotional Santos. “It is clear to me now that I allowed ambition to cloud my judgment, leading me to make decisions that were unethical. Pleading guilty is never a step I never imagined I would take, but it is a necessary one, because it is the right thing
to do.”
Santos acknowledged his lack of responsibility owed to his constituents.
“It has been the proudest achievement of my life to represent you, and I believe I did so to the best of my abilities, but you also trusted me to represent you with honor and to uphold the values that are essential to our democracy, and in that regard, I failed you,” Santos told the press.
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace, who has been prosecuting Santos, also addressed the press after Santos quickly departed following his emotional speech.
“After years of telling lies, former Congressman George Santos stood in the courthouse behind me and finally, under oath, told the truth,” said Peace. “And that truth is he is a criminal.”
Santos pled guilty to counts of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, as well as the crimes with which he was charged in the October 2023 superseding indictment, including making false statements to the FEC, applying for unemployment benefits to which he was not entitled, and making false statements and omissions on his financial statements to the House Ethics Committee.
Santos now faces a minimum prison sentence of two years, as the aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory two-year minimum. He faces a maximum of twenty-two years with all other charges considered. However, Judge Joanna Seybert estimated the sentencing range to be between six and eight years.
Santos also agreed to pay restitution of at least $373,000. He is required to pay the restitution thirty days before his sentencing. Failure to do so could result in additional sanctions.
Santos is due back in court for sentencing on February 7.
