Having been thrown out of Congress, lying former Long Island Rep. George Santos is now trying to get out of jail.
Santos (R-NY) has been negotiating with Eastern District of New York prosecutors leading the 23-count federal indictment against him, court records show.
“The parties are presently engaged in plea negotiations with the goal of resolving this matter without the need for a trial,” government lawyers wrote in a Monday court filing ahead of a Tuesday morning pretrial status conference — where Santos is expected to appear in person.
The fabulist former lawmaker is staring down the barrel of more than 22 years in prison for alleged embezzlement, identity fraud, and more.
Santos, 35, has publicly fretted about the prospect of getting thrown behind bars.
“I think everybody should be afraid of going to jail. It’s not a pretty place. I definitely want to work very hard to avoid that,” he told CBS New York’s “The Point” Sunday.
“I’m going to negotiate the best I can.”
Santos indicated he would be amenable to community service or some sort of plea deal that would spare him prison time.
Back in September, however, with Santos still enjoying the privileges of a member of Congress, he told reporters: “I will not take a plea deal” and vowed “I can prove my innocence.”
Prosecutors have alleged that the disgraced former congressman made unauthorized charges on donors’ credit cards, stole identities of donors, lied to the Federal Election Commission, illegally received unemployment benefits, laundered money, and inflated his campaign’s financial statements.
Santos has tried to pass the buck to his former campaign treasurer Nancy Marks, who pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in October.
A former Santos fundraiser, Samuel Miele, has also pleaded guilty to federal charges.
Santos is currently scheduled to stand trial beginning Sept. 9, 2024, though prosecutors have sought to move up the start date to May or June.
On Dec. 1, Santos became the sixth-ever House member to be expelled following a damning report from the chamber’s Committee on Ethics alleging he “blatantly stole” from his campaign.
Seeking to cash in on his political demise, Santos has reportedly made a mint on Cameo, a video-sharing platform in which celebs film messages upon request for the plebes of society.
Many of his messages feature pep talks in which Santos leverages his “large personality.”
When not sending well-wishes to strangers, Santos has embarked on a revenge tour against his enemies, filing ethics complaints against several members of Congress.