Disgraced former US congressman George Santos, who lied about his life story and defrauded donors, was sentenced Friday to over seven years in prison, sobbing as he heard his punishment.
Santos, who pleaded guilty last summer to federal wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, appealed for mercy, telling a court through tears that he was “humbled” and “chastised” and realised he had betrayed his constituents’ trust.
“I offer my deepest apologies,” he said, adding: “I cannot rewrite the past, but I can control the road ahead.”
US District Court Judge Joanna Seybert evidently was not convinced.
“Where is your remorse? Where do I see it?” she asked as she sentenced him to 87 months behind bars. She said the former politician appeared to feel that “it’s always someone else’s fault”.
The New York Republican served in Congress barely a year before his House colleagues ousted him in 2023.
