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George Santos Defends Against Prosecutors Ahead of Sentencing
NEW YORK (AP) — As he approaches sentencing on fraud charges, George Santos has taken to social media to assert his innocence and express regret, arguing against the severity of the proposed punishment.
In a detailed letter submitted to the court before his sentencing scheduled for Friday, Santos, who is 36 years old, conveyed his “profound” remorse for his actions while contesting the prosecutors’ request for a seven-year prison term, labeling it as “ridiculous” and excessively punitive.
“Every day since admitting my wrongdoing has been a reminder that I alone am accountable for my actions,” he stated. Santos, a former Republican congressman, pleaded guilty to multiple charges last summer. However, he insists that acknowledging his mistakes does not warrant silence while facing what he perceives as an unjust prosecution.
In a recent court filing, prosecutors accused Santos of showing a lack of true remorse, a claim they backed with examples from his social media activities. They pointed to his comments on X (formerly Twitter), where he labeled the U.S. Department of Justice a “cabal of pedophiles” and portrayed himself as a victim of overzealous law enforcement.
Santos countered these accusations, arguing that his outspoken posts are being misinterpreted and misused by the prosecutors to undermine his defense. He emphasized that disputing the seriousness of the proposed sentence should not be conflated with denying culpability, and he expressed concern over the implications of penalizing expressive speech.
He also contested the depiction of himself as the ringleader of the financial misconduct that led to charges, suggesting that it was unfair to single him out when others, such as his former campaign treasurer Nancy Marks—who also pleaded guilty—contributed significantly to the infractions. “If I truly were the mastermind they claim, I wouldn’t have left a trail of prints leading back to myself,” he remarked in his letter.
In his defense, Santos also addressed claims regarding his lack of efforts to pay restitution. He asserted that he has taken steps to liquidate personal assets and minimize expenses in pursuit of the approximate $580,000 restitution required under his plea agreement.
Santos noted that he has not solicited character references from friends or family for the sentencing, nor does he anticipate any supporters will attend the event out of shame and embarrassment. “This situation is mine to confront, not anyone else’s,” he explained.
The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, responsible for prosecuting Santos, has opted not to provide comments on the case.
Santos entered Congress representing parts of Queens and Long Island after winning election in 2022 but was expelled after just over a year of service due to the controversies surrounding his conduct.
His campaign was marred by fabrications, leading to questions about the sources of campaign funding, further complicating his political legacy.
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