Former New York Congressman George Santos is anticipated to plead guilty in his extensive fraud case, according to recent reports from US media. Santos, who was expelled from Congress in December 2023—the first member to be removed in over 20 years—faces 23 federal felony charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, and misuse of campaign funds.
Santos, a Republican, had initially pleaded not guilty. He is expected to appear in court on Monday in Central Islip, New York, to change his plea. The specifics of which charges he will admit to remain unclear.
If convicted on all charges, Santos could face a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. His expulsion from Congress made him only the sixth lawmaker in history to be removed from the House and the first since 2002.
Santos's brief time in office was marked by significant controversy, including accusations of dishonesty regarding his career, educational background, and Jewish heritage. He was also alleged to have falsely claimed that his mother died in the 9/11 attacks and to have defrauded Amish dog breeders in Pennsylvania.
A House ethics panel released a scathing report detailing his misuse of campaign funds, which allegedly included spending on Botox treatments, credit card debt, subscriptions to OnlyFans, and trips to the Hamptons.
As his trial was set to commence in September, both prosecutors and Santos’s legal team were preparing for court. His last court appearance was for a pre-trial hearing on Tuesday, CBS News reported.
