Former Congressman George Santos could plead guilty next week to numerous federal charges related to campaign finance fraud. 

Mr. Santos, who has proclaimed his innocence throughout the legal debacle, is facing a 23-count indictment that includes charges of wire fraud, fraud related to COVID-19 unemployment benefits, and charging campaign donors’ credit cards without their knowledge during his 2022 campaign.

According to multiple reports, Mr. Santos will plead guilty on Monday in a plea deal to avoid a hefty amount of prison time. 

The New York Republican was indicted on 13 charges in May 2023 and 10 more in October. 

The expected plea deal comes after Nancy Marks, his former campaign treasurer, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the U.S. in October. Sam Miele, his former campaign fundraiser, pleaded guilty to a federal wire fraud charge in November. 

Mr. Santos’ short tenure as a lawmaker was marred when details surfaced that he fabricated many aspects of his life, from lying about being a star volleyball player to claiming his mother was killed when terrorists attacked the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001.

The avalanche of federal charges and a bombshell House Ethics Committee report, which found that he lied to donors and used campaign money to bolster a lavish lifestyle — including buying luxury clothing, getting Botox and subscriptions to OnlyFans — led to Mr. Santos’ ouster from Congress in December after less than one term. 

Mr. Santos became the sixth member of Congress to be booted. 

Democrat Tom Suozzi won a special election to replace Mr. Santos this year, narrowing the GOP’s tiny majority in the House. 

Despite his historic ousting and legal woes, Mr. Santos tried a political comeback this year as an independent against Republican Rep. Nick LaLota in New York’s 1st Congressional District. 

Then Mr. Santos dropped out, saying he didn’t want to be the reason Democrats won the seat if he and Mr. LaLota split too many votes. 

• Alex Miller can be reached at amiller@washingtontimes.com.