Expelled former Congressman George Santos says he is running low on money and asked a judge to delay his sentencing on federal fraud charges so he can make more episodes of his podcast, “Pants on Fire.” The New York Republican has hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of fines to pay and pledged he could make money to pay it off through the podcast.
Prosecutors say that Santos didn’t present any evidence for his claim that he had a little more than $1,000 in assets or that the podcast would bring financial success. As of Wednesday, Jan. 8, all four of the episodes posted to YouTube have less than 1,000 views.
Instead, prosecutors pointed to evidence that Santos has made a lot more money than that since leaving Congress. They cite more than $400,000 through his account on the video-sharing app Cameo.
They added that Santos made another $400,000 from participating in a documentary after the House expelled him in December 2023.
Santos is just the sixth member in the history of the House of Representatives to be expelled by a vote from his colleagues.
Even before taking office, however, it was becoming clear that he had exaggerated details of his professional and personal life.
While it took nearly a year for the House to expel Santos, six of his House Republican colleagues from New York called for his resignation just days after his term began.
Santos pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft charges related to fraudulent campaign donations. He also pleaded guilty to taking campaign funds for personal use.
He faces anywhere between two and 22 years in prison.
