Former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) was sentenced Friday to seven years and three months in prison, concluding a more than two-year saga that saw him fall from GOP trailblazer to political scandal.
Santos, once celebrated as the first openly gay Republican nonincumbent elected to the House, became embroiled in controversy after it was revealed he fabricated much of his background. His expulsion from the House in December 2023 made him just the sixth lawmaker in U.S. history to be ousted.
He later pleaded guilty to wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and other charges, admitting to falsifying campaign finance reports, charging donors’ credit cards without authorization, and collecting unemployment benefits illegally.
U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert sentenced him to 87 months, matching prosecutors’ recommendation. Santos must also pay nearly $374,000 in restitution and forfeit about $205,000.
The scandal cost Republicans a key seat, which flipped back to Democratic control when Tom Suozzi won a special election in early 2024.
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