In a federal courtroom in Central Islip, New York, one of the most grotesque and controversial chapters in recent American political history has come to an end. George Santos, a former Republican congressman elected in 2022, was sentenced to over seven years in prison for a long list of crimes ranging from financial fraud and identity theft. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert, who largely accepted the prosecution’s requests.
Prosecutors had asked for a harsh sentence, emphasizing the “unprecedented” severity of the crimes committed. In a memorandum, they described the former congressman as a man who had created “an entirely fictitious biography” and stolen from “elderly and disabled people,” driven by “unbridled greed and an insatiable thirst for fame.” For them, the objective was clear: a long and severe punishment to send a strong message.
Although Santos had pleaded guilty to some of the charges last August and had publicly shown contrition, he was portrayed as “a pathological liar” lacking any real repentance. The recent launch of his weekly podcast, Pants on Fire with George Santos, was cited as proof of his willingness to profit from his own scandal, confirming his ongoing intention to “turn lies into money,” according to the prosecution.
The prosecutor’s office warned that without a strong sentence, the former politician would likely continue to deceive and defraud, using his own legal violations as a springboard for a media career, without ever compensating the victims of his wrongdoing.
The defense, on the other hand, asked for leniency, proposing a minimum sentence of two years. His lawyers argued that the crimes committed by their client were not driven by malice, but rather by “misguided desperation” linked to his political campaign. They also highlighted his lack of prior criminal record and stated that his fall from a position of public trust already served as a warning to anyone considering similar behavior.
Santos, for his part, had not stopped making headlines. In an interview with NY1, he stated that he had not contacted President Donald Trump to request a pardon but hinted that he was hoping for his intervention.
The former congressman’s political career had begun with what seemed to be a historic breakthrough, having flipped a Long Island district previously held by Democrats and thereby bolstered the Republicans’ narrow majority in the House. However, his electoral success was immediately followed by a barrage of media investigations that exposed lies about virtually every aspect of his life, from his education and work experience to his religious background.
In 2023, he was formally indicted on a wide range of charges, including the use of credit cards belonging to elderly individuals to make unauthorized purchases, some of whom suffered from cognitive decline. His campaign funds were reportedly used for personal expenses: rent, luxury clothing, trips to Las Vegas, and even a subscription to the adult content platform OnlyFans.
Following the release of a scathing report from the House Ethics Committee, Santos was expelled from Congress in December 2023. Since then, he has attempted to reinvent himself through personalized videos sold on Cameo, provocative public appearances, and income claims that appeared highly inflated.
Meanwhile, he has reportedly not paid a single dollar of the $373,000 in restitution that he owes to his victims, nor the $200,000 in forfeiture. In a recent statement, he admitted he was unable to make the payments but said he was still looking for a solution even though his time had effectively run out.
