Disgraced former Congressman George Santos, infamous for his web of lies, has been sentenced to over 7 years in prison for stealing campaign donations to fund his lavish lifestyle including OnlyFans subscriptions and luxury goods.
Key Takeaways
- Former Rep. George Santos received an 87-month prison sentence for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, along with restitution payments of nearly $374,000.
- Santos used stolen campaign donations to fund personal luxuries, including designer goods and OnlyFans subscriptions while defrauding elderly donors.
- Despite pleading guilty, prosecutors labeled Santos a “pathological liar” who showed no remorse, even launching a podcast called “Pants on Fire” after his indictment.
- Santos became only the sixth House member in U.S. history to be expelled after a damning Ethics Committee report revealed his extensive fraudulent activities.
- The judge highlighted Santos’ lack of remorse, questioning “Where is the remorse?” during the sentencing.
Serial Liar’s Day of Reckoning
U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert delivered a harsh reality check to former New York Congressman George Santos on Thursday, sentencing him to 87 months (7.25 years) in federal prison. The sentence follows Santos’ guilty plea to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges stemming from his elaborate scheme to divert campaign donations for personal use. Beyond prison time, Santos must pay $373,749.97 in restitution and endure two years of supervised release after completing his sentence. The punishment, while falling short of the potential 22-year maximum, reflects the gravity of his betrayal of public trust.
During the hearing, Judge Seybert pointedly asked, “Where is the remorse?” highlighting Santos’ continued defiance even after pleading guilty. Prosecutors painted Santos as a “pathological liar” who showed no genuine contrition for his actions, which included stealing from elderly donors and misappropriating funds meant for his campaign. Santos’ defense team attempted to portray his crimes as acts of desperation related to campaign pressures, but the judge wasn’t buying it, especially given Santos’ post-indictment behavior.
DEVELOPING: Federal prosecutors have recommended that former Congressman George Santos serve 87 months (over 7 years) in prison for wire fraud and identity theft. The disgraced ex-lawmaker pleaded guilty to faking donor information and inflating fundraising numbers to secure GOP… pic.twitter.com/to2Bin8Eau
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) April 5, 2025
From Congressional Seat to Prison Cell
Santos’ meteoric rise and fall represents one of the most bizarre chapters in recent political history. Elected to Congress in 2022 after flipping a Democratic seat in Long Island, Santos quickly gained notoriety not for his legislative work but for his fabricated personal history. His lies ranged from false claims about being Jewish to invented details about his education and work experience. The house of cards began collapsing shortly after his election, as journalists and watchdogs uncovered one fabrication after another, eventually leading to serious federal charges.
In December 2023, Santos became only the sixth member in House history to be expelled, following a damning Ethics Committee report that detailed his extensive fraudulent activities. The bipartisan vote of 311-114 underscored the severity of his misconduct, which transcended normal political divisions. Santos’ campaign finance violations were particularly egregious – he used donor credit card information to make unauthorized contributions and diverted campaign funds to pay for personal indulgences like designer clothing, Botox treatments, and even subscriptions to OnlyFans.
No Contrition, No Mercy
Despite facing serious prison time, Santos continued his defiant behavior right up to sentencing. After his indictment, he launched a podcast tellingly titled “Pants on Fire with George Santos,” which prosecutors cited as evidence of his lack of remorse. He also claimed to have earned substantial income from personalized videos on Cameo, though prosecutors suggested these earnings were greatly exaggerated – consistent with his pattern of fabrication. While he expressed remorse in court, calling his actions “inexcusable,” prosecutors effectively argued this was yet another performance from a serial liar.
Santos has yet to make any payment toward the $200,000 in forfeiture or the $373,000 in restitution required under his plea agreement. In perhaps his final act of political delusion, Santos expressed hope for a pardon from former President Donald Trump should he win in November, though admitted he had not reached out to Trump about the possibility. The sentencing marks the end of a brief but extraordinary political career built entirely on falsehoods, and serves as a rare example of meaningful accountability for political fraud in an era when many public figures seem to escape consequences for their actions.
