Former US Representative George Santos pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft, admitting to inflating fundraising figures and faking donor names to secure support from the Republican Party during the 2022 election, Reuter reports.
Santos, who was expelled from Congress last year, apologized to his constituents, acknowledging the harm caused by his actions. Santos had initially pleaded not guilty but later struck a plea deal with federal prosecutors, admitting to all the charges in the indictment, though he only formally pleaded guilty to two of the 23 counts. He could face up to 22 years in prison and waived his right to appeal any sentence under eight years as part of a plea deal.
Santos had been initially charged with multiple counts, including laundering campaign funds for personal use and fraudulently obtaining unemployment benefits. Santos, initially denying the charges, was involved in a series of scandals, including lying about his education, work history, and family background, which led to his expulsion from Congress. His seat was later filled by Democrat Tom Suozzi.
