NEW YORK – George Santos is expected to plead guilty to charges stemming from fraud allegations, a person familiar with the matter confirmed to CBS News New York.
Santos, the former New York Republican congressman, is expected to enter a plea in federal court on Monday in Central Islip, New York.
It was him expelled from the House of Representatives last year and has previously pleaded not guilty to 23 federal charges allegation of fraud, including misuse of campaign funds.
The sides prepared for trial next month
Santos appeared in a Long Island courtroom on Tuesday a preliminary investigation. His trial was scheduled to start in September.
Federal prosecutors asked the judge to let them surrender lies Santos told about the campaign as evidence, claiming that he “deliberately exploited them to perpetuate the criminal schemes.”
The lies included:
- Graduated from Baruch College and New York University
- To be a good college volleyball player
- Having grandparents who survived the holocaust
- Works at Citigroup and Goldman Sachs
- Making his family wealth
- Stealing from campaign contributors
Santos’ defense team asked the court for a partially anonymous jury, citing “extensive and largely negative media coverage” and claiming that “jurors may be subject to harassment or intimidation.” The judge had agreed.
If convicted at trial, Santos faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.