In an attempt to put off his upcoming sentencing for fraud charges, disgraced former Congressman George Santos has petitioned a New York judge to grant him extra time to produce episodes of his podcast, "Pants on Fire." According to a report by CBS News, the podcast, which Santos claims is a "viable path" to meeting his financial obligations, did not start until December, later than initially planned. His attorneys argued that additional time would allow for the quarterly compensation structure to generate the needed funds.
However, this request hits a snag as prosecutors sharply criticized the move, dismissing what they consider his speculations as "extremely speculative." They find the notion of delaying sentencing to enable Santos to monetize his notoriety particularly troubling. Sentencing, which is due February 7, would be delayed until August should the request be granted. Protectors argue that denying the request, which they communicated in a statement obtained by NBC New York, would avert sending the message that "crime pays."
Records reveal that Santos, who is on the hook for more than $578,000 in restitution and forfeiture per his plea deal, already pulled in over $800,000 from Cameo appearances and participating in a documentary despite claiming to have less than $1,000 in liquid assets. Prosecutors take issue with his lack of transparency over his financial affairs, especially given that this income comes in addition to his $174,000 earnings as a congressman.
Elected in 2022, Santos became a target of scrutiny, quickly unraveling under the weight of false claims about his resume and campaign funding. In pleading guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, Santos admitted to deceiving voters and donors alike, implausibly managing to steal the identities of people, even family members, for his campaign contributions. As a response to the email seeking comment on the recent developments, attorneys for Santos have yet to provide an immediate answer.
