CENTRAL ISLIP, New York (NV) – Former U.S. Representative George Santos pleaded guilty Monday to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in a case that led to his expulsion from Congress. Santos also admitted that he let his political ambitions cloud his judgment, the AP reported.
The 36-year-old former congressman faces at least six years in prison and more than $370,000 in fines. Santos pleaded guilty in federal court on Long Island before the case went to trial. Santos remains free on bail until his sentencing on February 7.
“I betrayed the trust of my constituents and supporters. I am deeply sorry for my actions,” the former New York Republican congressman said, his voice shaking as he pleaded guilty.
Santos was elected to Congress in 2022 after running for office with a series of lies about his background and assets, including the story that his mother died in the 9/11 attacks. Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse, Santos admitted that his political ambitions led him to “make unethical decisions.”
U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said the guilty plea allowed Santos to tell the truth “after years of lying.”
“And the truth is he is a sinner,” Peace said.
In addition to the crimes Santos confessed to in court, the former congressman also admitted to a series of other crimes that the court will factor into his upcoming sentence.
These include stealing people’s credit card numbers and spending them on election campaigns, tricking people into giving money to a fake non-profit organization and using the money to buy designer clothes, and falsifying financial records to report to Congress.
Santos was expelled from Congress after an investigation found evidence of illegal activities and abuse of power for personal gain.
The case was supposed to begin in early September. Prosecutors said Monday they were preparing about 40 witnesses, including Santos’ relatives, bosses and campaign committee members.
Santos was a rising political star when he won a New York suburban district, including the wealthy North Shore on Long Island and a stretch of Queens in New York City, for the Republican Party in 2022.
Some of the lies Santos told during his campaign included that he had worked for Citigroup and Goldman Sachs, as well as running a family business with assets of about $80 million. (TTHN)