George Santos pleads guilty to fraud and identity theft

Former congressman George Santos, an openly gay man and controversial figure in the LGBTQIA+ community, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in federal court on Monday, weeks before his trial was scheduled to begin in New York. Santos, who was the first openly gay Republican elected to Congress, is now awaiting sentencing, which is scheduled for February 7, 2025.

In court, Santos admitted his wrongdoing, saying, “I betrayed the trust of my voters and supporters. I deeply regret my conduct,” as reported by the Associated Press. The former lawmaker was facing a series of criminal charges, including identity theft and fraud, that have taken a heavy toll politically and personally.

The decision to plead guilty came after a series of legal twists and turns. Last week, U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert denied several motions filed by Santos’ defense, including a request that jurors answer questionnaires about their political views. The judge also ordered jurors to remain anonymous, which may have accelerated negotiations between Santos’ legal team and federal prosecutors.

With the plea deal, Santos avoided a trial that was expected to last three weeks and that would have likely drawn significant media attention. He had already suffered significant political consequences, being expelled from the U.S. House of Representatives in December 2023 after a detailed investigation by the House Ethics Committee. The investigation revealed substantial evidence of misconduct, including campaign finance violations and misrepresentation of his personal record.

Since his election to Congress, a breakthrough in queer history, multiple investigations have revealed that Santos fabricated significant portions of his resume and misused campaign funds for personal expenses, including the purchase of luxury items and a subscription to an adult content platform.

By Ezatamentchy