George Santos

George Santos is an American former politician who represented New York’s 3rd congressional district in the U.S.

George Santos is an American former politician who represented New York’s 3rd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2023. He was expelled from Congress in December 2023 after false statements about his background and federal criminal charges, and later pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. His case is of interest to Canadian readers as a notable example of political scandal, misinformation in electoral biographies, and congressional expulsion in the United States.

Early life and background

George Santos was born on July 22, 1988, in Queens, New York City. Public reports and later investigations showed that parts of the personal and professional biography he presented during his political career were false or misleading. His campaign biography was later found to contain numerous fabrications and falsehoods.

U.S. House career

Santos won election to represent New York’s 3rd congressional district in November 2022 and took office on January 3, 2023. His short House tenure, lasting less than one year, was overshadowed by scrutiny over his biography, finances, and campaign activity.

Criminal charges and conviction

Federal prosecutors charged Santos with multiple offences related to fraud, false statements, and campaign-finance violations in 2023. He later pleaded guilty in 2024 to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, leading to a prison sentence.

Expulsion from Congress

The House voted to expel Santos in December 2023 following ethics findings and the criminal case. His removal made him one of the few lawmakers ever expelled from the chamber. The expulsion occurred after false statements about his background and federal criminal charges.