Santos’s sentencing pushed back until April
Former Rep. George Santos's (R-N.Y.) sentencing is delayed until April, a judge ruled Wednesday.
Santos, who was ousted from Congress in late 2023, had his request to delay sentencing in part granted.
In Judge Joanna Seybert’s order on Wednesday, she noted that since Santos pleaded guilty, he has not made any payments toward the amount owed or indicated he has the funds to do so, “despite his promises and predictions.”
In a filing last week, Santos’s attorneys asked the court to delay his original February sentencing date until August, citing the forfeiture money owed 30 days before sentencing.
Prosecutors said Santos’s claims are “speculative” and delaying sentencing could set a “perverse incentive structure” that rewards defendants who have notoriety.
Still, Seybert said in her order that she would delay the sentencing date slightly as a “one-time courtesy.”
Santos’s new sentencing date is on April 25, and he is required to pay more than $205,000 in forfeiture, in addition to $375,000 in restitution.
The former lawmaker's team argued Santos now has a “viable path” to pay the fine and a “promising revenue stream,” after his podcast, “Pants on Fire with George Santos,” launched last month.
Prosecutors disputed the request and asked the judge to keep the February date in place, noting Santos has had ample time to secure the funds since he pleaded guilty last August.
Santos pleaded guilty to two felonies, avoiding a criminal trial. Although he originally faced 23 felony counts, his lesser plea still could carry jail time.
The former lawmaker was expelled from the House after a scathing House Ethics report found he deceived campaign donors and stole from campaign funds to utilize for personal use.