It was expected in advance that Santos would plead guilty.
He has pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a minimum sentence of two years in prison.
– I deeply regret my behavior and the harm it has caused, and accept full responsibility for my actions, Santos said in court on Monday.
The verdict in the case against him is scheduled for February 7 next year. He faces up to 22 years in prison and has waived his right to appeal a sentence of less than 95 months, just under eight years.
Santos has previously pleaded not guilty to a series of financial offenses, including lying to Congress about his wealth, claiming unemployment benefits while working, and using campaign contributions to cover personal expenses such as designer clothes.
But since December, he has been negotiating with the prosecutor’s office about a so-called confession agreement, that is, a lighter sentence if he pleads guilty.
In December, Santos, a Republican, was thrown out of the House of Representatives after ethics investigators said there was “overwhelming evidence” that he had broken the law and used his public office to enrich himself.
After he was thrown out of Congress, a new election was held in his constituency on Long Island in New York in February, where the Democrat Tony Suozzi won.
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2024-08-21 03:08:41
