Former U.S. Representative George Santos has pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a federal fraud case that led to his expulsion from Congress. The New York Republican entered his plea in a Long Island courtroom, just weeks before his trial was scheduled to begin in early September.
Santos, who was indicted on felony charges, was accused of stealing from political donors, using campaign contributions for personal expenses, providing false information to Congress about his wealth, and fraudulently collecting unemployment benefits while employed. An ethics investigation conducted by Congress found “overwhelming evidence” that Santos had violated the law and exploited his public position for personal gain, resulting in his expulsion from the U.S. House.
Arriving at the New York courthouse on Monday afternoon, Santos did not respond to questions from reporters. A person familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that Santos is expected to plead guilty to multiple counts in his federal fraud case. The court appearance was scheduled on short notice, at the request of both prosecutors and Santos’ lawyers, without specifying the purpose.
Santos, once considered a rising political star, had won the suburban district covering the affluent North Shore of Long Island and a portion of Queens in 2022. However, his reputation began to unravel even before he took office, as reports emerged questioning his career claims and educational background. Further scrutiny revealed irregularities in his campaign funds. Santos was initially indicted on federal charges in May 2023 but refused to resign from his congressional position.
Separately, in Manhattan federal court, Judge Denise Cote dismissed a lawsuit filed by Santos against late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, ABC, and Disney. Santos claimed infringement and unjust enrichment, alleging that they used videos he made on the Cameo app for a segment on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” The judge ruled that Kimmel’s use of the clips, which were also posted on YouTube, fell under fair use as criticism and commentary.
As his criminal trial approached, Santos expressed his fear and described the process as psychologically challenging. In a recent radio interview, he stated that he found solace in returning to a private civilian life and expressed no desire to return to the political scene.
Santos had sought a partially anonymous jury, citing concerns about potential public ridicule influencing the jurors’ ability to decide the case impartially. However, the judge denied this request, along with Santos’ proposal for potential jurors to complete a questionnaire gauging their opinions of him. Prosecutors aimed to present evidence of Santos’ financial falsehoods during his campaign, including false claims about his employment history and family-run firm assets.
Two former campaign aides, Nancy Marks and Sam Miele, have previously pleaded guilty to crimes related to Santos’ campaign. Marks, the ex-treasurer, admitted to a fraud conspiracy charge, implicating Santos in an alleged scheme to falsify campaign finance reports. Miele, a former fundraiser, pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges, acknowledging that he impersonated a high-ranking congressional aide while raising funds for Santos’ campaign.
