Former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., pleaded guilty on Monday to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, declaring outside the courthouse that this plea was the “right thing to do.”
“This plea is not just an admission of guilt,” Santos stated to reporters. “It’s an acknowledgment that I need to be held accountable like any other American that breaks the law.”
In court, dressed in gray slacks and a black sports coat, he expressed his commitment to “making amends and learning from this experience.” He is scheduled for sentencing on February 7.
Santos admitted to falsely claiming that relatives contributed to his campaign, attempting to meet fundraising thresholds to qualify for financial assistance from the National Republican Congressional Committee. He also acknowledged other fraudulent activities, including unauthorized credit card charges and misrepresenting donor contributions as funds for TV ads. Furthermore, he admitted to stealing public funds by receiving unemployment benefits during the pandemic that he wasn’t entitled to.
In a statement, Santos recognized that his actions “betrayed” his constituents. In addition to potential prison time, he must repay nearly $374,000 and forfeit over $200,000. He could face a sentence of 75 to 87 months, which includes a mandatory two-year minimum for aggravated identity theft.
Fighting back tears outside the courthouse, Santos conveyed his “deep regret” and accepted responsibility for his conduct, apologizing to his former constituents for allowing “ambition to cloud [his] judgment.”
“It is clear to me now that I allowed ambition to cloud my judgment, leading me to make decisions that were unethical,” he said. “Pleading guilty is a step I never imagined I would take, but it is a necessary one, because it is the right thing to do.”
He acknowledged his failure to his constituents and expressed hope to help “restore the integrity” he diminished through his lies.
“It has been the proudest achievement of my life to represent you, and I believe I did so to the best of my abilities, but you also trusted me to represent you with honor and uphold the values essential to our democracy, and in that regard, I failed you,” he said.
While Santos vowed to accept full responsibility, his lawyers indicated that he might struggle to pay over $200,000 in restitution. Santos must make the payment 30 days prior to sentencing or face additional penalties.
“At this time, he does not have the money,” defense attorney Andrew Mancilla informed the federal judge.
Santos, 36, was charged in May 2023 with 13 counts of wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, and making materially false statements to the House of Representatives after extensive reports of his past deceptions.
In October 2023, he faced 10 additional charges, including wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. His trial was initially set for September.
In July, a judge denied his motion to dismiss some fraud charges, citing his failure to meet legal standards. Two associates of Santos, his former campaign finance chief and a fundraiser, have already pleaded guilty to charges.
Santos narrowly avoided expulsion in November 2023, only to become the sixth member of Congress expelled on December 1, 2023. He had represented New York’s 3rd Congressional District since January 2020.
Following his plea, United States Attorney Breon Peace characterized Santos’s actions as a “fraud of unprecedented proportions,” noting that this was the first time Santos had been truthful about his criminal conduct.