Former US Rep. George Santos pleaded guilty yesterday to two charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft after being indicted on 23 federal felony counts in 2023. The plea deal allows Santos to avoid a September trial but means the 36-year-old will likely face at least six years in prison. He owes at least $370K in restitution and $205K in forfeiture. He faces sentencing Feb. 7.
The New York Republican had been at the center of a scandal since beginning his first and only term in office in 2022 when reports revealed he allegedly embellished his background, including his college degree and Wall Street career. In December 2023, the House voted 311-114 to oust Santos from Congress. He became the sixth House member to be expelled in US history and the first to be removed without being convicted of a crime or supporting the Confederacy. See a timeline here.
Separately, the FBI arrested a Washington, DC, council member—who unsuccessfully ran for mayor in the nation's capital in 2022—on a federal bribery charge.
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