© Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK
(Central Islip, NY) – Former New York Congressman George Santos is pleading guilty to federal fraud charges. The disgraced Republican appeared in court on Long Island, where he pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and wire fraud. His trial had been set to start next month for allegedly committing a range of financial crimes, including using campaign funds to buy designer clothing and skincare treatments.
Santos was indicted on 23 federal charges in 2023 and refused to resign from Congress. Last December, the House of Representatives voted 311-to-114 to expel Santos from the House after an ethics investigation revealed he had broken the law and put his personal interests ahead of the public.
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Breon Peace said the residents of Nassau and Queens counties elected Santos to represent them honorably and honestly, but instead they were badly deceived. Santos will go to prison for at least two years and he’ll be required to forfeit the money he made illegally and repay the victims he swindled.
