Disgraced former GOP Rep. George Santos of New York reported to federal jail Friday to start his sentence of greater than seven years. He pleaded responsible in April to a sequence of fraud schemes starting from wire fraud to aggravated identification theft.
However if you happen to thought he would go quietly, assume once more.
In true Santos style, he’s spent the previous few weeks making the rounds on podcasts—together with Tucker Carlson’s—posting prolonged farewells on social media, and sending cameo movies to followers for greater than $300 every.
On Wednesday, he posted a clip on X of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” full with the road, “And now the end is near / and so I face the final curtain.”
Then on Thursday, Santos wrote a rhinestone-studded goodbye on X.
Santos arrives at federal courtroom for his sentencing on April 25.
He additionally acquired emotional in the course of the stream, thanking his supporters, getting choked up, and insisting that he wouldn’t repeat his errors.
“Make better choices, be smarter than me, that’s for sure. I’ve made a string of shit choices in my life and for that, I’m sorry,” he mentioned. “We built common ground through trust and transparency, and I wouldn’t have done it any other way.”
Ginger Gaetz, spouse of disgraced former GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, was amongst those that known as in to want Santos nicely.
And he acquired in a couple of last jabs, calling his sentence extreme.
“There’s something to be said about the prison industrial complex, by the way. They’re selling fucking Twinkies for $5,” he mentioned. “I mean, they have to be making banging profits. I mean, I’m thinking maybe when I get out of prison, I open a prison.”
Santos whereas nonetheless a consultant
He additionally joked about unhealthy recommendation he’s obtained—like preventing the most important man on the within—and mentioned he deliberate to deliver solely a notepad, a Bible from his grandmother, and a pocket copy of the U.S. Structure. He added that he hopes to show civics whereas behind bars.
Santos rose to fame in 2022 after flipping a Home seat on Lengthy Island. However by 2023, the lies had caught up with him. Reporters uncovered discrepancies in his résumé and marketing campaign filings, whereas prosecutors alleged he had defrauded donors, misused funds, and stolen identities to rack up fraudulent costs.
He was finally expelled from the Home in December 2023, turning into the sixth member in historical past to face such a punishment. He pleaded responsible earlier than trial to 23 counts—together with fraud, cash laundering, and false statements—and he was sentenced to 87 months in jail and ordered to pay practically $600,000 in restitution and forfeitures.
Santos closed his X Areas stream by urging folks to come back collectively throughout political divides.
“I hope you all keep doing exactly what you’ve been doing, which is keeping each other honest and engaging in very much needed discourse,” he mentioned. “We are in a time in our [lives] where we need to come closer as humans and not further.”
Even in his last moments of freedom, Santos didn’t shrink back from settling scores—or enjoying the tragic star of his personal political cabaret.
