George Santos Expected to Plead Guilty to Fraud Charges on Monday

Former Representative George Santos, a Republican from New York, is anticipated to plead guilty on Monday to federal fraud charges, according to various media outlets citing informed sources.

Reports from CNN and The New York Times indicate that Santos will enter a guilty plea. However, neither Santos nor his legal team has commented on these claims.

The 36-year-old has faced 23 federal fraud charges, with a trial initially slated to begin in September at the U.S. District Court for Eastern New York, which would feature an anonymous jury.

Santos has publicly denied any wrongdoing, asserting his innocence and entering a not guilty plea in October to charges that include wire fraud, identity theft, and making false statements to the Federal Elections Commission.

In December, he was expelled from the U.S. House of Representatives after the House Ethics Committee found that he had violated both federal and state laws. Santos represented areas in Queens and Nassau County for roughly a year before his expulsion.

Before Santos’ expulsion, his former aide, Sam Miele, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Miele confessed to impersonating an aide to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to execute a fundraising scheme.

This scheme, which took place in the fall of 2021, involved soliciting funds for Santos while masquerading as an unidentified aide.

Earlier this year, Santos briefly attempted to reclaim a political role, announcing in March his intention to run for a different seat in New York’s 1st Congressional District. Nonetheless, he withdrew from this campaign just a month later.