Former Republican Rep. George Santos is anticipated to plead guilty to federal charges on Monday in connection to fraudulent activities during his 2022 House campaign. This development comes just weeks before his federal trial was scheduled to commence.
Santos' expected plea would bring an end to a nearly two-year saga that involved him falsifying his resume while running for election in New York’s 3rd Congressional District. Despite winning the seat, Santos faced 23 federal charges and was subsequently expelled from Congress last year.
The pretrial conference for Santos is set to take place on Monday in front of US District Judge Joanna Seybert in the Eastern District of New York. Jury selection for his trial was initially slated to begin on September 9, but a joint request from prosecutors and Santos' attorneys led to an in-person conference being scheduled for the following Monday.
Last year, prosecutors alleged that Santos engaged in fraudulent activities related to Covid-19 unemployment benefits, misused campaign funds, and provided false information about his personal finances on House disclosure reports. Santos had previously pleaded not guilty to all 23 charges.
Despite his earlier stance on not accepting a plea deal, Santos is now expected to plead guilty. This decision follows guilty pleas from his campaign fundraiser and former campaign treasurer on related charges.
Santos, who represented parts of Long Island and Queens during his brief tenure in Congress, faced mounting pressure for expulsion after revelations surfaced about fabrications in his life story and resume. The House ultimately voted 311-114 in favor of expelling Santos, making him only the sixth lawmaker to be ousted from the chamber.
Following his expulsion, Santos briefly attempted a congressional comeback as an independent candidate but later withdrew his bid. His legal troubles and expulsion from Congress have marked a significant chapter in his political career.
