Former Rep. George Santos pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft charges in a federal courtroom on Long Island Monday afternoon, concluding a nearly two-year saga that engulfed the United States Congress and stunned the public with increasingly lurid revelations.
Prosecutors accused the former congressmember of a wide range of federal crimes as part of a scheme to mislead voters and defraud donors.
Though Santos pleaded guilty only to wire fraud and identity theft, U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said the former congressmember “also admitted to committing all other crimes he was charged with.” According to Peace’s office, Santos admitted he filed fraudulent reports to the Federal Election Commission, embezzled funds from his donors, charged credit cards without authorization, stole people’s identities, fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits, and lied in a report to the House of Representatives.
“After years of telling lies, former Congressman George Santos stood in the courthouse right behind me and finally, under oath, told the truth,” Peace said at a press conference.