Former US congressman George Santos has pleaded guilty to two campaign fraud charges, admitting to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in a New York court on Monday. The plea marks a stunning reversal for the Republican, who had consistently denied wrongdoing and previously pleaded not guilty to 23 federal charges.
Santos faces up to 22 years in prison, though his plea agreement suggests a sentence of six to eight years. He must also pay at least $373,749.97 in restitution and forfeit over $200,000. The charges stem from a litany of fabrications about his background, including false claims about working on Wall Street and attending New York University, as well as misusing campaign funds for personal expenses such as Botox, designer clothes, and OnlyFans subscriptions.
In court, Santos admitted to collecting $24,000 in unemployment benefits while employed, lying on financial disclosure forms, and making false statements to the House Ethics Committee. He also confessed to wire fraud, diverting campaign funds intended for TV adverts to personal use. 'This plea is not just an admission of guilt, it's an acknowledgment that I need to be held accountable like any other American that breaks the law,' Santos told reporters outside the courthouse.
Santos was expelled from the House of Representatives in December 2023 after an ethics investigation found he had stolen campaign donations and charged donors' credit cards without authorisation. His seat was won by Democrat Tom Suozzi in a special election, narrowing the Republican majority. Santos is scheduled to be sentenced on 7 February 2025.
