Politics
Former GOP Rep. Sentenced To 7 Years In Prison
Disgraced former Republican congressman George Santos was sentenced Friday to 87 months in prison after admitting to a series of fraud schemes that helped him win a seat in Congress. The former New York representative broke down in tears as a federal judge handed down the punishment, marking the latest chapter in a stunning political downfall.
Santos, who pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud and aggravated identity theft last summer, made a tearful plea for leniency before the court. “I offer my deepest apologies,” he said, adding, “I cannot rewrite the past, but I can control the road ahead.” He described himself as “humbled” and “chastised,” but U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert wasn’t persuaded by the display.
“Where is your remorse? Where do I see it?” the judge asked. She said Santos continued to act like “it’s always someone else’s fault” and ultimately imposed the full 87-month sentence sought by prosecutors. In addition to prison time, Santos was ordered to pay nearly $580,000 in financial penalties.
The 36-year-old, who flipped a suburban New York district for Republicans in the 2022 midterms, was expelled from the House in late 2023 after barely a year in office. His career unraveled quickly as investigations revealed he had fabricated major parts of his biography, including false claims about his work history, education, and financial standing.
Santos also admitted to stealing the identities of nearly a dozen individuals, including family members, to finance his political campaign. Some of his victims were particularly vulnerable, prosecutors said, highlighting cases involving a woman with brain damage and two elderly men suffering from dementia.
Congressman George Santos attends pro-Trump supporters rally at New York criminal court on April 4, 2023 during appearance by Former President Donald Trump Jr.
“People think of this as a victimless crime because it’s about money. There are many victims in this crime,” said New York Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon, who personally addressed the court after Santos was caught fraudulently collecting unemployment benefits while employed by a Florida company.
Leading up to the sentencing, Santos insisted he was prepared to face the consequences. “I’m doing as well as any human being would be doing given the circumstances,” he said in a text message to The Associated Press, adding that he was “ready to face the music.” However, prosecutors pointed to recent social media posts where Santos portrayed himself as the target of an unfair prosecution, questioning the sincerity of his remorse.
Defense attorney Andrew Mancilla pushed for a lighter two-year sentence, arguing that Santos’s troubled upbringing shaped his poor decisions. Mancilla described his client as someone who “built the man he wanted to be, not who he was,” claiming that “he did that because he believed that the world would not accept him for who he was.” The defense emphasized that Santos had no prior criminal record and had faced bullying throughout his life.
“Deep down, he is warm, kind, caring, and thoughtful,” Mancilla told the court. But even he acknowledged the reality of public opinion now: “Everyone hates George Santos.”
The former congressman originally fought the charges, pleading not guilty when he was first indicted in 2023. He later abandoned a reelection campaign he had launched as an independent before ultimately entering a guilty plea just weeks before his trial was set to begin.
Along with fraud tied to his campaign, Santos faced nearly two dozen federal charges, including misuse of campaign funds, lying on House disclosure forms, and illegally collecting Covid-19 unemployment benefits. The House Ethics Committee’s scathing report last year detailed additional misconduct, leading to his expulsion.
As part of his sentence, Santos must surrender by July 25.
