Ex-US congressman George Santos pleads guilty in corruption case; faces 2 years in jail
- Republican George Santos apologised to his New York constituents after pleading guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft
Former US congressman George Santos pleaded guilty to criminal corruption charges on Monday, cementing the downfall of a novice politician who was expelled from Congress last year after a brief, scandal-plagued tenure.
Santos, a Republican, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a minimum two-year prison sentence. He entered his guilty plea at a hearing before US District Judge Joanna Seybert in Central Islip, New York, on Long Island.
After pleading guilty, Santos, 36, apologised to his New York constituents.
“I deeply regret my conduct and the harm it has caused and accept full responsibility for my actions,” Santos said in court, his voice shaking as he read from a prepared statement.
Santos was hit with federal charges in May 2023 for laundering campaign funds to pay for his personal expenses, charging donors’ credit cards without their consent, and receiving unemployment benefits while he was employed.
