George Santos Expected to Plead Guilty

Former U.S. Representative George Santos is likely to plead guilty to several charges in his federal fraud case. A source familiar with the situation indicated that Santos will make this plea at a court hearing scheduled for Monday on Long Island.

This news comes just weeks before jury selection was supposed to begin on September 9. Santos, a Republican from New York, had previously pleaded not guilty to a number of financial crimes. These include lying about his wealth to Congress, collecting unemployment benefits while working, and using campaign donations for personal expenses like designer clothing.

In December 2023, Santos was expelled from Congress after an ethics investigation found strong evidence that he had broken the law and misused his public position for personal gain. His upcoming court hearing was requested jointly by prosecutors and Santos’ lawyers, and they also managed to push back some pre-trial deadlines.

According to reports, Santos is expected to admit guilt to multiple counts related to campaign finance fraud. He faces a variety of charges in the Eastern District of New York, including wire fraud and identity theft. This is in addition to previous charges he received back in May 2023.

During his time in Congress, Santos managed to flip a Long Island seat from Democratic to Republican, helping to secure a narrow GOP majority in the House. But just weeks after taking office, his campaign came under scrutiny for inaccuracies in his background and resume, leading to his eventual downfall.