Former Rep. George Santos (R-NY), who was expelled from Congress last year after extensive fraud revelations, received a hefty 87-month prison term on Friday.
Santos, 36, pleaded guilty last year to committing wire fraud and aggravated identity theft while also admitting he “filed fraudulent FEC reports, embezzled funds from campaign donors, charged credit cards without authorization, stole identities, obtained unemployment benefits through fraud, and lied in reports to the House of Representatives,” per a Department of Justice press release.
As U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert handed down the sentencing, Santos could be seen putting his hands over his head in apparent disbelief, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Despite Santos saying in a Monday letter to the presiding judge that he “accepted full responsibility” for his crimes and was “profoundly sorry” for his actions, John J. Durham, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York under President Donald Trump’s DOJ, had pushed for an 87-month sentence, characterizing Santos as “unrepentant,” and “blamed his circumstances on misplaced trust in others,” per The Wall Street Journal.
Judge Seybert reportedly concurred with this sentiment, saying at the sentencing, “Where’s the remorse? Where do I see it?”
After his expulsion from Congress, Santos attempted to monetize his notoriety, likely in an attempt to pay the $375,000 in restitution, through personalized videos on Cameo and launching a podcast aptly titled “Pants on Fire” – a possible reference to his numerous falsehoods about his education, work history, and personal background, according to The New York Times.
Santos was making “twice his congressional salary” through the personalized video platform, according to The Times, with the former congressman pushing a “last week on Cameo” promotion in a last-ditch effort to raise money before his sentencing.
Durham argued in a supplemental court memo that Santos’ recent social media posts claiming he is a “scapegoat” and a victim of DOJ overreach and selective prosecution “suggested he had little remorse for his actions.”
“His actions speak louder than any words, and they cry out for a significant carceral sentence in this case,” the U.S. attorney said.
Hi my name is George Santos and the DOJ has had a hard on for me since December of 2022.
I refuse to let them break me or my spirit and that makes them big Mad… they have used elaborate language to drag me and hinder my ability to earn income…
Long story short, I will NOT…
— Pants On Fire with George Santos (@MrSantosNY) April 5, 2025
Santos’ dramatic fall began shortly after his 2022 election victory when it was revealed that he had fabricated much of his background, such as graduating from Baruch College, working for Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, and even playing collegiate volleyball.
“I didn’t graduate from any institution of higher learning. I’m embarrassed and sorry for having embellished my resume,” Santos admitted in 2023, adding, “I own up to that. … We do stupid things in life.”
Santos was expelled from the House of Representatives after fellow Republicans led the charge following a bipartisan House Ethics Committee report, which found that he had stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars from donors. Some funds were reportedly spent on luxury goods, OnlyFans, and Botox.
His attorneys had requested the minimum 24-month sentence, arguing that his actions “stemmed largely from a misguided desperation related to his political campaign, rather than inherent malice,” according to The New York Times, with the judge ultimately accepting the prosecution’s recommended sentence.
