Disgraced former U.S. Rep. George Santos, who lied about his life story and defrauded donors, was sentenced Friday to over seven years in jail, sobbing as he heard his punishment.
“Where is your remorse? Where do I see it?” U.S. District Court docket Choose Joanna Seybert requested as she sentenced him to 87 months behind bars. She stated the previous politician appeared to really feel that “it’s all the time another person’s fault.“
The New York Republican, who served in Congress for barely a yr earlier than his Home colleagues ousted him in 2023, pleaded responsible final summer time to federal wire fraud and aggravated id theft.
He admitted to deceiving donors and stealing the identities of practically a dozen folks, together with his relations, to fund his profitable marketing campaign. As a part of a plea deal, Santos has agreed to pay roughly $580,000 in penalties along with jail time.
The 36-year-old did not reply to reporters’ shouted questions as he walked right into a Lengthy Island courthouse, however he instructed The Related Press on Thursday that he’s resigned to his destiny.
“I’m doing as well as any human being would be doing given the circumstances,” Santos wrote in a textual content message on Thursday, including that he was “ready to face the music.”
Prosecutors are in search of seven years in federal jail for Santos, arguing in current courtroom filings that he “remains unrepentant” and has not proven real regret, regardless of what he claims.
They cite current feedback Santos has made on social media by which he casts himself as a sufferer of prosecutorial overreach.
In a letter to the courtroom this week, Santos pressured that he stays “profoundly sorry” for his crimes however stated prosecutors’ proposed sentence is just too harsh.
Santos’ legal professionals have known as for a two-year jail stint, which is the obligatory minimal sentence for aggravated id theft.
They argue such a penalty is akin to sentences handed to former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and different political figures convicted of comparable monetary crimes.
Santos was elected in 2022, flipping a rich district representing elements of Queens and Lengthy Island for the GOP.
Quickly after, it was revealed that the political unknown had fabricated a lot of his life story, portray himself as a profitable enterprise proprietor who labored at prestigious Wall Road companies and held a worthwhile actual property portfolio.
In actuality, Santos was struggling financially and even confronted eviction. The revelations led to congressional and felony inquiries into how he had funded his marketing campaign.
As his sentencing approached, Santos was reflective in social media posts, thanking his supporters and detractors alike.
“I learned that no matter left, right or, center we are all humans and for the most part Americans (LOL) and we have one super power that I cherish and that is compassion,” he wrote Thursday on the social platform X. “To the trolls… well you guys are an impactful part of how people shape themselves, and y’all made me much stronger and made my skin thicker!”
He additionally made one ultimate plug for his Cameo account, the place he data customized video messages for $100.
“Think ahead and of any celebration or event coming up later this year. Book them today,” Santos wrote, ending the put up with a collection of coronary heart emojis.
Related Press author Jake Offenhartz in New York contributed to this story.
