Former Rep. George Santos, a Republican from New York, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, as well as other crimes, in a plea agreement with federal prosecutors. Santos, who was expelled from Congress in December 2023, could face up to seven years in prison. The plea agreement also includes restitution of nearly $374,000 and forfeiture of over $200,000.

In the court hearing, Santos, dressed in gray slacks and a black sport coat, expressed remorse and a commitment to making amends and learning from his actions. He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 7. The charges against Santos involve him falsely claiming that relatives had made contributions to his campaign in order to meet the fundraising threshold for financial assistance from the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Additionally, Santos admitted to other fraudulent activities, including charging donor credit cards without authorization and deceiving donors by falsely stating that the funds would be used for television advertisements. He also confessed to unlawfully applying for and receiving unemployment benefits during the pandemic for which he was not eligible.

In a statement to the court, Santos acknowledged that his actions had betrayed his constituents and others. Outside the courthouse, fighting back tears, he expressed deep regret for his conduct and accepted responsibility for his actions. Santos apologized to his former constituents for allowing ambition to cloud his judgment and stated that pleading guilty was a necessary step towards being held accountable.

36-year-old Santos was initially charged with 13 counts of wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, and making false statements to the House of Representatives. In October 2023, he faced an additional 10 charges in the Eastern District of New York, including wire fraud, making false statements to the Federal Election Commission, and aggravated identity theft. His trial, which had been scheduled to start in September, was avoided through the recent plea agreement.

Two of Santos' associates, his former campaign finance chief Nancy Marks and fundraiser Sam Miele, have already pleaded guilty to charges related to the case. The expulsion vote held in November 2023 resulted in Santos surviving, but the subsequent superseding indictment led to his ultimate expulsion from Congress on December 1, 2023.

According to an ethics report, Santos allegedly fabricated loans to solicit contributions from wealthy donors, misused campaign funds for personal expenses, and diverted donations for his own use. The report detailed extravagant expenses, including trips to Atlantic City, where he allegedly enjoyed playing roulette with his husband, significant spending on Botox treatments, and purchases at luxury stores like Ferragamo and Hermes.

Santos, who represented New York's 3rd Congressional District since January 2020, also made an unsuccessful bid to represent New York's 1st Congressional District in April. As he looks towards sentencing, Santos hopes to restore the integrity he acknowledges having diminished through his fraudulent actions.