Ex-US congressman pleads guilty to fraud and identity theft

Former Republican U.S. Congressman George Santos has pleaded guilty to charges of fraud and identity theft in a case against him in the United States.

After the court session in New York, Santos told reporters that he regretted his actions, stating, “I realize I betrayed the trust of my supporters.”

In his confession, Santos said, “This is not just an acknowledgment of the false statements I made to others, but more importantly, an acknowledgment of the lies I told myself over the past years.”

Santos’s sentencing hearing will take place in February 2025.

Background on Santos

George Santos, who was elected as a New York Congressman in the November 8, 2022, midterm elections, later became known for allegations of false statements regarding his election, fraud, money laundering, and other charges.

Santos described the 23-count indictment prepared by the prosecution in New York as a “witch hunt” and announced he would not resign from his position.

The House Ethics Committee launched an investigation in March 2023, and on December 1 it terminated his membership due to ethical rule violations.