Ex-Congressman George Santos receives over 7 years imprisonment term
In an unexpected twist, disgraced ex-congressman George Santos, who soared to political victory with a "tower of lies, theft, and fraud"[1], was slapped with a seven-year prison sentence on Friday.
"Where's the remorse?" US District Judge Joanna Seybert quipped, delivering Santos a 87-month prison term and an order to pay approximately $580,000 in restitution and over $200,000 in forfeiture[2]. Despite Santos composing a tearful plea for leniency and confessing to having deceived his constituents[3], Seybert's sentimental strings didn't pull. She stated she dislikes sending individuals to jail, but Santos was "fully deserving" of the rigorous sentence[3].
In a fiery social media post following the verdict, Santos accused the judge and criticized the 7-year sentence, pleading for President Trump's intervention. Santos argued that the sentence was "over the top politically influenced"[3]. The White House remained silent on the issue[3].
Despite his guilty plea to the pair of felony fraud charges[4], along with a teary expression of remorse[3], prosecutors argued that Santos is a pathological liar who remains unapologetic about his actions. They highlighted his recent podcast launch, "Pants on Fire with George Santos," as a clear demonstration of his lack of genuine contrition and his relentless attempts to cash in on his deceit[4].
Santos' lies began well before he took office, with reports revealing fabrications in his resume and personal history. These lies culminated in campaign finance fraud, resulting in his indictment in federal court on Long Island in 2023[4]. In addition to identity theft, he swindled donors to enrich himself and fund his lavish lifestyle. Among those whose financial information he misused were three "elderly individuals suffering from cognitive impairment"[4].
The House Ethics Committee released a damning report, detailing Santos' misuse of campaign funds for personal expenses, such as rent, luxury designer goods, personal trips, cosmetic procedures, and a subscription to the adult content site OnlyFans[4]. In response, the House voted to expel him in December 2023[4].
In the months since, Santos claims to have brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars through sales on Cameo[4]. However, prosecutors suggested Santos was overstating his income, as well as potentially lying about the source of some earnings[4].
With his prison sentence looming, it remains unclear whether Santos will be able to repay his victims or meet the financial obligations outlined in his plea agreement[4]. In an interview with NY1, Santos commented on his financial status, stating, "As of today, right now, I'm unable to pay anything. I don't know if that's going to change within the next 24 to 48 hours, prior to sentencing, because I am still working on trying to make some kind of meaningful attempt at restitution because it is my obligation"[4].
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/25/george-santos-sentencing-congressman-pleaded-guilty-to-fraud-campaign-finance[2] https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/george-santos-sentencing-updates/index.html[3] https://www.wsj.com/articles/george-santos-sentenced-to-7-years-in-prison-after-pleading-guilty-to-campaign-finance-fraud-and-identity-theft-11682201833[4] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/george-santos-puzzling-rise-congressman-grounded-reality-clarifies-some-things-rcna86034
- Prosecutors argue that Santos' lack of contrition is evident in his recent podcast launch, "Pants on Fire with George Santos," a clear demonstration of his relentless attempts to cash in on his deceit, despite his guilty plea and tearful plea for leniency.
- The House Ethics Committee's damning report details Santos' misuse of campaign funds for personal expenses, such as rent, luxury designer goods, personal trips, cosmetic procedures, and a subscription to the adult content site OnlyFans.
- The White House remains silent on Santos' plea for President Trump's intervention following his fiery social media post criticizing the 7-year prison sentence as overtly politically influenced.
- Among those whose financial information Santos misused were three "elderly individuals suffering from cognitive impairment," one of the many instances of identity theft and campaign finance fraud he has been indicted for.
- With his prison sentence looming, it is unclear whether Santos will be able to repay his victims or meet the financial obligations outlined in his plea agreement, as he comments in an interview that he is currently unable to pay anything.
