Judge throws the book at George Santos
“You’re a bright man, Mr. Santos. There’s no reason you have to commit crimes to support yourself.”
America’s favorite fraudster congressman will serve far longer in prison than he served in office.
A federal judge agreed with prosecutors and handed George Santos a sentence of seven years and three months on a count each of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Last year Santos admitted he lied to federal and state institutions to get unemployment benefits during the Covid-19 pandemic and swindled donors — several of them elderly and disabled — out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Santos sobbed uncontrollably as he told the court he was “fully accountable for the choices I made,” but U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert didn’t see it that way.
The judge said it was “incredible — incredible” that Santos, who says he can’t pay the $580,000 he owes in restitution and forfeiture, hadn’t set up a savings account as he raked in $360,000 via the star-powered video platform Cameo and another $200,000 for a documentary about himself.
Ahead of his sentencing, Santos took to social media calling himself a scapegoat and accused the Justice Department of protecting pedophiles.
“Where is the remorse? Where did I see it?” Seybert asked him Friday. “It’s always somebody’s fault.”
The 36-year-old ex-lawmaker became famous after extensive, and sometimes bizarre, lies about his work history, education and personal background came to light shortly after his term began.
He was expelled in December 2023, less than a year after his term began.
After sentencing Santos, who asked to do his time at a facility with mental health treatment, Seybert suggested one with educational resources, too.
“You’re a bright man, Mr. Santos. There’s no reason you have to commit crimes to support yourself,” she said.
Reporting above is by yours truly, as I’m back in the field starting this week. Find me on Twitter and Bluesky!
With that, my colleagues and I have plenty more Courthouse News.
Here’s what else happened in court this week:
Federal judges in New York and Colorado issued rulings in line with the Supreme Court’s weekend order stopping the Trump administration from sending migrants to a dangerous prison in El Salvador, under a 1798 wartime act that’s been used only a handful of times in U.S. history, on suspicion of gang activity and without due process (i.e. adequate notice and time to challenge their removal).
After returning from a trip to El Salvador, Florida Representative Maxwell Frost said the administration is flatly defying the high court and should be found in contempt of court. [Kelsey Reichmann, Nina Pullano, Amanda Pampuro, Benjamin S. Weiss]
Ivy League research: Harvard University sued the Trump administration to combat billions of dollars of cuts to its research funding. [Erik Uebelacker]
Gagging Google: In Washington, D.C., Google faces a major breakup as the long-awaited remedy phase of the landmark antitrust trial got underway. In California, Yelp’s antitrust case against Google over search results will proceed. [Ryan Knappenberger, Michael Gennaro]
Unnamed: NFL Hall of Famer and podcaster Shannon Sharpe was accused of sexual assault and battery by an unnamed woman seeking at least $50 million in damages. [Hillel Aron]
Retrial, same result: Jurors cleared The New York Times of liability for former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s claims the newspaper defamed her in a 2017 editorial. [Josh Russell]
Life sentence: The man convicted of the Highland Park, Chicago, mass shooting at a Fourth of July parade was sentenced to life in prison without parole. [Caitlyn Rosen]
Golden State emissions: The Supreme Court appears likely to allow automakers to challenge California’s electric vehicle mandate. [Kelsey Reichmann]
Unblocked: Two federal judges paused the Trump administration’s move to suspend security clearances for attorneys with the firms Perkins Coie and WilmerHale. [Ryan Knappenberger]
Top 8: What you’ve been reading
Wisconsin refuses to participate in Department of Education’s anti-DEI certification
Daughter-in-law in Hawaii crime syndicate sentenced to 7 years
It’s a Jubilee year for the Vatican, but Romans aren’t all so jubilant
Shannon Sharpe accused of sexual assault and battery in $50 million lawsuit
‘Disgrace’ DOJ filing faults congestion pricing case, sparking feud with Transportation Department
Eighth Circuit sympathetic to former Iowa police chief convicted of buying machine guns
Dems to Chief Justice Roberts: Help us help you protect federal judges
OAKLAND, Calif. (CN) — A federal judge halted a $2.8 billion settlement in athletes’ antitrust suit against the NCAA and some of the nation's biggest conferences. She’s concerned roster limits could force many athletes to lose their spot. [Matt Simons]
Rulings on our radar 📡
» Northern District of California: The court ordered the federal government to pause its move to shut down the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System used by international students for two weeks.
» Northern District of Illinois: A mother lost liability claims against Google, Apple and other tech companies over her son’s video game addiction.
» Northern District of California: An ADA lawsuit against Dunkin’ Donuts over the extra fee charged for nondairy milk alternatives was dismissed.