Former Rep. George Santos shifts to Pleading Guilty in Fraud Cases

[Social Media]

 

Former Representative George Santos (R-N.Y.), who once made headlines as the first openly gay Republican elected to the House without being an incumbent, is expected to plead guilty to multiple charges related to a wide-ranging fraud case. The guilty plea represents a significant turn of events for Santos, who had previously insisted on his innocence. The plea deal, which will be formally presented in U.S. District Court, will allow Santos to avoid a trial next month on 23 criminal charges that carried the potential for significant prison time if he were convicted.

 

According to a source familiar with the matter, Santos will plead guilty to several of these charges, although the specific counts have not been disclosed. The plea agreement still requires approval from U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert, who has been overseeing the case. An in-person hearing has been scheduled for Monday afternoon, following a request from the parties involved. The brief letter submitted to the court on Friday did not disclose the reasons for the hearing, but it was noted that some case deadlines had been extended.

 

The former congressman faces serious allegations, including misleading campaign donors, unauthorized use of their credit cards, inflating campaign finance reports, fraudulently obtaining unemployment benefits, and lying on his financial disclosures. Initially, Santos was indicted in May 2023 on 13 charges, with an additional 10 charges added in October of that year. Just last week, he appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to a revised version of his indictment, which included minor modifications. Jury selection for his trial was scheduled to begin on September 9 on Long Island.

 

Santos’s downfall began shortly after he was elected to Congress in 2022 when a New York Times investigation revealed that he had fabricated large portions of his resume and personal biography. These revelations triggered a series of events that culminated in his indictment and eventual expulsion from Congress. The Ethics Committee's report, published in December, provided damning evidence that Santos had deceived donors, misappropriated campaign funds for personal use, and engaged in other unethical activities. This report played a pivotal role in the House’s decision to expel Santos, making him only the sixth member in U.S. history to be ousted from the chamber.

 

The legal case against Santos intensified after two of his former aides admitted their own guilt in connection with the fraud schemes. His former campaign treasurer, Nancy Marks, pleaded guilty in October of last year. Samuel Miele, a former fundraiser for Santos, also admitted to impersonating a House leadership aide and illegally charging donors' credit cards. These guilty pleas further undermined Santos's defense and set the stage for his own eventual admission of guilt.

 

In the wake of his expulsion, a special election was held in February to fill Santos's seat. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) emerged victorious, flipping the Long Island district blue and further narrowing the Republican Party’s already slim majority in the House.

 

Prosecutors had prepared to use Santos’s fabricated resume as a central piece of evidence in the trial, arguing that his falsehoods were closely linked to the crimes he was charged with. The list of potential witnesses included Santos's friends, family members, and former staffers, who were expected to testify about his deceptive practices.

 

As Santos prepares to enter his guilty plea, this case marks the end of a tumultuous period in his political career, one that saw a meteoric rise followed by a dramatic fall from grace. The former congressman’s legal troubles serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of dishonesty and corruption in public office.

 

Credit: Hill  2024-08-20

 

 

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[Chomper Higgot]

All the best people.

[Skeptic7]

A total tool and tosser. Looking at 8 years hard time. I say give him 9❗

[candide]

The party of convicted felons! 😀

[koolkarl]

What about my fav, Pelosi.

[Srikcir]

59 minutes ago, koolkarl said:

What about my fav, Pelosi.

What?

[newnative]

On 8/20/2024 at 10:26 AM, Chomper Higgot said:

All the best people.

are not Republicans.