© Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK
(New York, NY) – As he prepared to enter prison, having been convicted of fraud and money laundering — former Congressman George Santos joined Sid Rosenberg on Sid and Friends in the Morning.
Santos represented New York’s 3rd Congressional District for nearly an entire year — from January to December of 2023. He was indicted in May of that year, accused of wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, and making false statements to Congress.
He was eventually hit with a superseding indictment and faced a total of 23 counts in total. But Santos’ woes extended even further than his actual crimes: at times he falsely claimed to have Jewish ancestry, lied about working at Goldman Sachs and owning over a dozen properties — he also bizarrely lied about having been a volleyball player.
It was a year ago in August 2024 when Santos pleaded guilty to fraudulent campaign finance reports, embezzling donor funds, stealing identities, and fraudulently obtaining unemployment benefits.
That was the unceremonious end to Santos’ criminal saga. He was the first openly gay Republican member of Congress to be elected. He then became just the sixth member of Congress to ever be expelled. It was also the first time a Republican was forced out without having already been convicted — excluding people tied to the Confederacy during the Civil War.
Following his admission of guilt and conviction, the court allowed for a delayed sentencing so Santos could make some money. He hosted a podcast “Pants on Fire with George Santos” — purportedly to cover fines — though prosecutors criticized this as speculative and indicative of his lack of remorse. There were also claims that Santos showed a further “belligerence” on social media, accusing the DOJ of targeting him — while ignoring more serious issues.
This week, Santos will surrender and begin his over seven-year prison sentence. It’s a just result according to many, such as Nassau Residents for Good Government — which expressed outrage over Santos’ actions, emphasizing the harm caused. Santos told Rosenberg he regrets his actions and does worry his time in prison will be difficult.
