Former Rep. George Santos Begins Seven-Year Federal Prison Sentence

George Santos, the New York Republican who was expelled from Congress for fabricating much of his biography and committing fraud, began serving an 87-month federal prison sentence at the Fairton facility in New Jersey. Santos pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for deceiving donors and stealing identities to fund his 2022 congressional campaign, which helped flip a Democratic district for the GOP. Despite expressing some regret, a federal judge denied his request for a reduced sentence, citing a lack of genuine remorse, and Santos must also pay significant restitution and forfeiture. Known for his theatrical social media presence, Santos bid farewell to his supporters on the X platform while maintaining his support for President Donald Trump, though he does not expect clemency. His case is notable as he became only the sixth member of the House to be expelled, with prosecutors and officials condemning his actions as a serious affront to the electoral process and representative government. Santos's former campaign treasurer also pleaded guilty to related conspiracy charges.