The once-respected New York Republican congressman, George Santos, is reportedly on the brink of admitting guilt to charges of defrauding his campaign during the 2022 midterm elections.
This development, which is expected to unfold on Monday, is the result of a plea deal with prosecutors, according to several reports.
As reported by The Guardian, the first whispers of a plea agreement emerged on Friday, just before Santos's federal criminal trial was due to commence in the coming month. A sudden hearing was scheduled by prosecutors and defense attorneys, though the reason was not explicitly stated. Several contributors to Santos's previous election campaign informed Talking Points Memo that they had been notified of an impending plea deal announcement on Monday. TPM was the first to shed light on Santos's alleged fraudulent activities, which involved the misuse of campaign funds for personal expenditures.
Neither Santos's attorney, Joe Murray, nor the US attorney for the eastern district of New York, the federal prosecuting authority overseeing the case, were available for comment on Saturday. Santos, a former unknown in the political arena, gained notoriety after winning a crucial New York Democratic district in 2022. However, his reputation took a hit when it was discovered that his resume was largely fabricated.
Despite these revelations, Santos received unwavering support from the Republican leadership in the House for several months. He was eventually expelled in December 2023, less than a year after his induction into Congress. The Democrat Tom Suozzi emerged victorious in the special election to fill the vacant seat.
Santos, a 36-year-old first-generation Brazilian American, had positioned himself as part of a "new generation of Republican leadership" and the "full embodiment of the American dream". His claims of graduating from a New York college, working at a prominent New York bank, running a pet rescue charity, owning a portfolio of 13 properties, and having a mother who was present at the World Trade Center during the 9/11 attacks, were all proven false.
Santos's fabrications were eventually exposed, leading to his indictment on 23 charges, including allegations of lying to Congress and misusing campaign funds for personal luxuries such as casino trips, Ferragamo shoes, Botox treatments, and OnlyFans payments. Despite these charges, Santos maintained his innocence, often declaring it to the press.
A damning report from the House ethics committee highlighted Santos's financial irresponsibility, revealing his frequent debt, poor credit score, and reliance on high-interest credit cards to fund his lavish lifestyle. The report also noted that Santos had withdrawn over $240,000 in cash for unknown reasons.
After his departure from Congress, Santos embarked on a new venture as a Cameo performer, creating personalized messages for paying customers. This venture proved to be more lucrative than his congressional salary. Santos also attempted a return to Congress as an independent candidate, but this effort was short-lived.
Should a plea deal materialize next week, it would follow similar agreements with Santos's campaign fundraiser, Sam Miele, and his former campaign treasurer Nancy Marks, both of whom pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges last year.
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