Former U.S. Congressman from the Republican Party George Santos pleaded guilty to corruption and could be sentenced to up to 22 years in prison. This was reported by Reuters, according to UNN.
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It is noted that Santos, who became known for a series of scandals and was expelled from Congress, pleaded guilty to criminal charges of corruption. According to the publication, “this decision effectively puts an end to his short and scandalous political career.
Santos pleaded guilty to fraudulent use of electronic communications and identity theft. The latter charge carries a minimum of two years in prison. The court hearing was held in Central Islip, New York, under the presidency of Federal Judge Joanna Seibert.
During the court hearing, Santos, 36, apologized to his constituents, saying he deeply regretted his actions and accepted full responsibility for his actions. Under a deal with federal prosecutors, he waived his right to appeal if his sentence is less than 95 months (just under eight years).
Santos was indicted in May 2023 for a number of crimes, including laundering campaign money to cover personal expenses, unauthorized use of donor credit cards, and receiving unemployment benefits while he was officially employed. After his arrest, he was released on $500,000 bail.
George Santos is to be sentenced on February 7, 2024. He faces up to 22 years in prison on the current charges.