Friday, May 23, 2025
At George Santos’ first court appearance, he claimed that the entire trial “was a witch hunt” and that he was “going to take care of clearing (his) name.”
It has proven to be his last lie, as nearly two years later, the former representative for New York’s Third Congressional District was sentenced to seven years in prison and over $300,000 in fines.
The sentencing concludes a tumultuous chapter marked by political ascension, scandal, and legal battles. Santos, 36, pleaded guilty in August 2024 to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, admitting to defrauding donors and misusing campaign funds.
Instead, sniffling and choking out his responses, Santos tried to portray himself as a penitent, flawed man who was trying to do better.
“I betrayed the confidence of my constituents, my colleagues, and my friends and family,” Santos blubbered. “I can’t rewrite the past, but I can control the road ahead.”
Judge Joanna Seybert was not buying it however. She pointed out the numerous opportunities the disgraced congressman had had over the course of the nearly two-year trial to show genuiune repentance for his actions, but that in every instance he he had continued to lie, defraud and continue his criminal lifestyle.
Seybert also pushed back against claims that Santos had made online, in which he had asserted the government was committing “lawfare” against him.
“I’m not here to decide politics,” Seybert said. “I’m here to render a just verdict. Mr. Santos words have consequences and your lies continued as you tried to save face. You’re a bright man and there’s no need to commit crimes to support yourself.”
Throughout the final day in court, Santos’ attorneys also attempted to portray their client as not just remorseful, but as a broken man who had nothing left. One of his lawyers, Robert Fantone Jr., emphasized how utterly humiliated and unemployable the former congressman was.
He further described how Santos’ personal relationships ”are in tatters.” Furthermore, the defense attempted to portray him as a victim of life’s circumstances, describing a rough childhood without parental stability, strong moral guidance and poverty.
“Everyone hates George Santos,” Fantone Jr. said. “He built an alter ego, the man he wanted everyone to believe he was.”
The defense also tried to claim that Nancy Marks, Santos’ former campaign treasurer who is facing her own trial for her role in the campaign fraud, was the mastermind behind the scheme, and that Santos was unaware of the extent of her fraud.
Furthermore, they tried to allege that she was incentivized to commit the fraud in expectation of financial reward, although they did not identify what that reward actually would have been,
The prosecution refused to accept this perspective, pointing out that in any campaign or similar organization, the leader of the organization always has the final say, and that this case was no different.
They also pointed out the brazen audacity with which he had committed his crimes, balancing five criminal schemes at the same time while lying to the Third Congressional District.
As Seybert read out the final sentence, Santos could be heard choking back tears. The formerly larger-than-life conman had become just another criminal who lost. As he walked out of the courtroom, dozens of protestors and demonstrators heckled him as we made his way to his car.
Among them was Rich Osthoff Jr., the disabled veteran who made headlines when he accused Santos of stealing money from a GoFundMe page to save the life of his service dog Sapphire. As Santos got into his car Osthoff shouted at him “Justice for Sapphire!”
Osthoff, who was in the courtroom for the trial, compared Santos’ tears with those he had shed for his beloved service dog.
“It reminded me of when my dog died because of his deceit and deception, how I felt,” Osthoff said. “I was on my knees, blubbering in the shower. It was good to see (him like) that.”
