NEW YORK — George Santos is expected to plead guilty to charges stemming from allegations of fraud, a person familiar with the matter confirmed to CBS News New York.
Santos, the former New York Republican congressman, is expected to enter a plea in federal court Monday in Central Islip, New York.
He was expelled from the House of Representatives last year and previously pleaded not guilty to 23 federal charges alleging fraud, including misusing campaign funds.
Sides were preparing for trial next month Santos appeared in a Long Island courtroom on Tuesday for a pre-trial hearing.
If convicted in a trial, Santos faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
According to a person with knowledge of the situation, George Santos is anticipated to enter a guilty plea to charges arising from fraud allegations, as reported by CBS News New York.
Santos, a former Republican congressman from New York, is scheduled to enter a plea in Central Islip, New York, federal court on Monday.
He previously entered a not guilty plea to 23 federal charges alleging fraud, including misusing campaign funds, before being expelled from the House of Representatives last year.
The parties were getting ready for the trial that takes place next month.
Santos attended a pre-trial hearing on Tuesday in a courtroom located on Long Island. September was the planned start date of his trial.
Using the argument that Santos “deliberately leveraged them to perpetuate the criminal schemes,” federal prosecutors asked the judge to allow them to present lies he said during the campaign as evidence. ****.
Among the lies were:.
completing studies at New York University and Baruch College.
being a successful collegiate volleyball player.
being descended from Holocaust survivors as grandparents.
working for Goldman Sachs and Citigroup.
fabricating the wealth of his family.
stealing from those who donate to campaigns.
Citing “extensive and largely negative media coverage,” Santos’ defense team requested a partially anonymous jury from the court, alleging that “jurors could face harassment or intimidation.”. “The magistrate granted consent.
Santos could get up to 20 years in prison if found guilty after a trial.
On a potential plea agreement, former constituents are divided.
New York’s 3rd Congressional District was represented by the disgraced former congressman. The Republican Party was able to seize control of the House with his victory in 2022. Santos began making news almost instantly for a long list of scandals.
After being charged, he has consistently expressed his desire to appear in court. Judge Jody Kass Finkel, who led the citizen group that removed Santos from office, said, “Well, give him his day in court.”. He was practically tormenting us for several months. We were forced to live with him as our representative for eleven months. We don’t think there is any more urgency, so he shouldn’t accept a plea bargain. “.
Divergent views were held by other inhabitants of Santos’s former district.
“I no longer experience anger. He ought to just vanish, dot. Barbara Garrett, a resident of Little Neck, stated, “He ought to reimburse the money.”.
“There is no way in which I believe he ought to go to jail. He was an U.S. S. Envoy. One man remarked, “He might have made some bad mistakes, but I don’t think he belongs in the same class as violent offenders who serve even shorter sentences.
“Any punishment that anyone else would receive for breaking the law should also be meted out to him,” uttered by another man.
