One of the most spectacular cases of fraud by a member of the US Congress came to an end today when George Santos was sentenced to 87 months in prison for all the crimes he had committed. The brazenness of both his frauds and the way he responded when he was found out were truly breathtaking. The judge was not convinced by his last-minute expressions of contrition.
He lied extensively about his life story both before and after entering the US Congress, where he was the first openly LGBTQ+ Republican elected to the body. He was ultimately convicted of defrauding donors.
…He admitted to deceiving donors and stealing the identities of nearly a dozen people, including his family members, to fund his winning campaign. He also made up strings of fantastical stories about his life, identity and experiences.
During his court case he frequently held press gatherings and mocked the media and his detractors, saying he was being smeared.
Santos was shown to have spent donor money on vacations, luxury goods, Botox treatment and the website OnlyFans.
…Santos’s sentencing was not without controversy. Before his Friday court appearance, he referred to himself as a “scapegoat” on social media, in reference to prosecutors accusing him of organizing the fraudulent conspiracy.
Santos also alleged that the justice department was a “cabal of pedophiles”, in posts made to X. Prosecutors highlighted Santos’s comments in a filing after Santos’s defense team requested a two-year prison sentence.
…As part of the plea agreement, Santos was forced to pay a restitution of $373,749.97 and forfeiture of $205,002.97.
A list of his lies is something to behold. And yet, for a while, his Republican colleagues in Congress were willing stand by him until the scandal got so bad that they booted him out. It was a local newspaper the North Shore Leader that first accused him of fabricating his resume shortly before his election but the story did not gain traction in the major media.
Since he was convicted in federal court, he could appeal to Trump to pardon him. It would not be at all surprising to me if Trump did that.
But is there any profit in it for DJT? Even the Republicans hate Santos. Of course, DJT might do it if he thinks it helps him to ‘own’ some of his critics.
The Republicans hate Trump too. King Trump does what King Trump wants, and he simply adores emphasising how powerful he is. Santos will fall over himself grovelling*, then Trump will wave his tiny paws magnanimously and that will be that.
*or would if Santos wasn’t an utter, utter, utter idiot. But surely not even Santos…? Well, I give it a 20% chance.
my husband says they should let him stay in congress as court jester.
The profit in it is ‘I do what I want no matter what people say’.
It was instantly obvious to me the minute Mano posted it here that of course he would pardon Santos.
Regarding Trump interfering with justice: FBI just arrested a Milwaukee judge for obvious political reasons.
He has entered the ‘Insane Roman emperor’ phase of his presidency. Pardoning Santos just became more likely.
Of course the ‘Pubs don’t like him. He’s not white. He’s not a legitimate US citizen. He’s gay. He’s a former drag queen. He’s a petty thief, emphasis on “petty”, since they don’t really care about stealing the big monies. His lies are so transparent and embarrassingly bad that it makes Trump look honest in comparison. If it was just like, two of those, they could maybe look the other way, but all this is too much.
That being said I’d give it 50-50 that Trump pardons him anyway, because reality is out on vacation.
5 -- that is alarming and fucked up. also alarming, a federal fink hotline that just dropped for reporting doctors who provided care for transgender minors. stop this country, i want the fuck off. gotta stop paying attention to the news again. i keep saying i’m gonna do this, but here i am. bad, bad, bad.
@7: “stop this country, i want the fuck off”
Newsflash: other countries are available. Better countries. Safer countries. I’m amazed anyone with any choice stays there.
Sadly, Canada and a lot of other countries are making it harder for US citizens to stay long.
I am unable to find the link again, but Canada, various European countries, China and Japan are getting more negative to getting extensions for visas.
In Japan and China they do not even quote a reason for rejecting an extension. Minor errors on the application is enough (of course, foreigners in the USA are already familiar with hostile authorities).
The prison should have a satellite prison next to the Capitol building, with thick glass walls allowing the congressmen to see Santos and other convicted criminals. “Pro memoria”, you know.
roj -- still not an option without, oh, robbing a bank and leaving all possessions behind and being illegal there, but taken under advisement, as usual. i was definitely asking for that comment so no bitching from me this time, haha.
sonofrojblake @8: some of us can’t afford to move. Also, if I could afford it, I think I’d like to move to a Nordic country; and they probably wouldn’t want me. 😎
Obligatory Randy Rainbow song
The Swedish Xenophobe party has forced the ruling coalition to introduce more hoops immigrats must jump through.
There are groups here that support people who are here for political asylum, but it is reasonable that refugees from Afghanistan and other burning junkheaps need the support more.
For Americans the full-scale conflagration is still in the potential future.
The easiest, cheapest option for Americans is to get organised.
And primary the hell out of Democratic candidates that are not up to the job ahead. Yes, that means firing some people that have done very good work in the past.
But Mr. Spock explained the choices at the end of ‘The Wrath Of Khan’.