Disgraced congressman George Santos expected to take plea deal in fraud case

George Santos, the former Republican congressman oustedamid a series of scandals, is reportedly set to accept a plea deal in his federal criminal case in order to avoid a trial, lawyers involved in the case and those familiar with the matter said.

The disgraced lawmaker is expected to enter a guilty plea to the judge overseeing his case, District Judge Joanna Seybert, on Monday at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, New York, sources told Talking Points Memo, CNN, The New York Times and other outlets.

Santos is facing 23 felony charges including wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, aggravated identity theft, making false statements to the Federal Election Commission and more.

Federal prosecutors have brought two indictments against Santos, launching allegations of brazen financial corruption within Santos’ 2022 House campaign and his congressional office.

Thus far, the congressmen pleaded not guilty to all 23 charges. Instead, he called the indictment, and superseding indictment, a “witch hunt” and has previously publicly denied talks of a plea deal. A federal trial was set to begin in September.

But court filings from December indicated Santos’ lawyers and federal prosecutors were actively engaged in plea deal negotiations.

On Friday, both sides asked Judge Seybert for a hearing on Monday but did not explain why.

The Independent has asked Santos’ lawyer for comment on the reports.

Allegations of lies and corruption have followed Santos like a shadow since he was elected to represent New York’s 3rd congressional district in 2022.

Off the bat, Santos was accused of lying on his resume about graduating college and working at Goldman Sachs – which he later admitted was untrue.

But it was Santos’ lies or