Disgraced former New York Republican George Santos was sentenced to 87 months in prison on Friday, April 25.
Santos was expelled from Congress after the midterms
After flipping a seat red in the 2022 midterms, Santos didn’t last long. By December 2023, he got kicked out of the House and became the sixth person in history to ever get expelled.
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Prosecutors said Santos pulled a bunch of shady financial moves
The disgraced congressman was apparently paying himself back for campaign loans that didn’t even seem to exist. So basically, he was just pocketing donor money.
While he was waiting for his sentence, he kept posting online
Santos kept posting, trying to paint himself as a victim. He kept saying the DOJ wouldn’t “break my spirit,” and even counted down the days till sentencing.
“I have taken and continue to take full responsibility for my actions, but I will never allow the DOJ to kill me on the inside like they desire,” he posted on April 18.
Santos said he mentally prepared for prison
Before heading into court, the 36-year-old told The New York Times he sort of made peace with what was coming. Said he was getting himself ready for a long time behind bars.
“I came to this world alone. I will deal with it alone, and I will go out alone,” he said.
But prosecutors didn’t let his social media posts slide by so easily
In a Justice Department filing dated April 17, U.S. Attorney John J. Durham called out Santos’ “unrepentant” posts online, saying it showed he deserved a “significant carceral sentence.” They weren’t buying the whole “I’m sorry” act.
Instead, Durham said Santos was just being his usual self
He was chasing likes online, acting all aggressive, and blaming everyone but himself. “Santos has reverted to form and approaches sentencing with belligerence and an insatiable appetite for ‘likes,’ blaming his situation on everyone except himself,” he added.
Federal attorneys argued for a long sentence
The decision came after federal lawyers pushed hard for a tough sentence, saying Santos showed a “strong lack of remorse” and would probably do it all over again. They were asking for the full 87 months to really hold him accountable.
Santos pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft
Santos had already pleaded guilty back on August 19, 2024, admitting he lied about his background and stole identities to help pump up his campaign.
But STRONG evidence showed he spent campaign money on luxury goods
Durham didn’t just talk, he brought the receipts.
“As the Court knows, Santos did use campaign contributions made to Redstone Strategies LLC to make luxury purchases at, among other stores, Hermès. Even at this late stage, he simply refuses to fully own up to his actions,” it said.
After getting expelled from Congress, Santos didn’t exactly lay low
He started a podcast called Pants on Fire and jumped on Cameo and OnlyFans, trying to scrape together money for legal bills and fines.