In a recent court filing, federal prosecutors revealed that they are currently engaged in plea negotiations with former Republican Congressman George Santos to potentially resolve his pending criminal fraud case. The disclosure was made through a letter from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Brooklyn to Judge Joanna Seybert, proposing a joint agenda for a scheduled status conference in Long Island federal court.

According to the court filing, the parties involved are actively working towards reaching a plea agreement in order to avoid a trial. The letter stated, "The parties are presently engaged in plea negotiations with the goal of resolving this matter without the need for a trial. The parties wish to continue those negotiations over the next thirty days."

No immediate response was received from Santos' lawyer regarding the prosecutors' disclosure of ongoing plea negotiations. However, in a recent interview with CBS New York, Santos indicated that a plea agreement is not out of the question, saying, "Look, in the essence of everything going on, a plea is not off the table, obviously, at this point. I'm gonna negotiate the best I can."

Santos, who was expelled from Congress at the beginning of December, is facing multiple charges, including wire fraud, identity theft, and making false statements. The court filing did not disclose specific details of the negotiations or the potential terms of a plea agreement.

The former representative had been serving his first term in Congress, representing a district that covered parts of Queens and Long Island, before his removal due to a scathing ethics report into his conduct. His expulsion further reduced the already slim Republican majority in the House of Representatives.

Santos is currently scheduled to go to trial in September. However, prosecutors have requested a trial to commence in May or June. As part of the ongoing investigation, Samuel Miele, a former campaign fundraiser for Santos, recently pleaded guilty to wire fraud in relation to impersonating a top aide to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy while soliciting donations for Santos. Additionally, Santos' former campaign treasurer, Nancy Marks, pleaded guilty to multiple campaign finance felonies last October.

The outcome of the plea negotiations remains uncertain, but it is evident that efforts are being made to reach a resolution in this case before it proceeds to trial. The next thirty days will prove critical in determining whether former Rep. George Santos will ultimately enter into a plea agreement or continue with the planned trial.