George Santos’ sentencing delayed until April 25 so he can keep making podcasts

NEW YORK — Disgraced former Congressman George Santos had his February sentencing delayed until April 25, a judge ruled Wednesday.

That will give Santos, 36, additional time to keep making new episodes of his podcast, “Pants on Fire with George Santos,” presumably so that he can pay the money he owes the government.

Back in August, Santos pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. He owes $578,752.92 as per his plea deal, including $373,749.97 in restitution and $205,002.97 in forfeiture. He is expected to go to prison for at least two years when he is sentenced, although the judge previously said the estimated sentencing range was between 6-8 years. 

In a letter to a judge last Friday, Santos’ attorneys said their client is required to pay more than $200,000 in forfeiture money 30 days before he is sentenced. They said that, through his podcast, Santos “now has a viable path to making meaningful progress in satisfying his obligations, requiring only additional time for the quarterly compensation structure to generate sufficient funds.” 

They asked the judge to delay his sentencing from Feb. 7 until a Friday in August, but the judge only moved it 10 weeks.

In a statement, Santos’ defense attorney Joseph Murray said, “It’s unfortunate how unnecessarily difficult the government is making this process.”

Santos’ attorneys said the podcast was initially meant to launch in September, but since it didn’t actually get off the ground until December, they wanted more time to record more episodes. 

Delay sends a message that crime pays, prosecutors say

Prosecutors had responded to the request for a delay in sentencing by saying Santos’ claims of needing more time for the podcast to get off the ground were “facially speculative, and, in any event, entirely insufficient to warrant such a lengthy adjournment.” 

“His request for delay should be denied, and sentencing should proceed as scheduled,” they wrote. “A delay to allow Santos to develop his podcast — the title of which is a tone-deaf and unrepentant reference to the crimes he committed — is presumptively unreasonable.” 

Prosecutors also said Santos has already earned more than $400,000 from Cameo appearances and $400,000 for participating in a documentary. All of this is in addition to his $174,000 salary as a congressman. They took issue with a claim he made that he had less than $1,000 in liquid assets. 

“Allowing Santos to stave off sentencing specifically to monetize his infamy would send a message that crime pays,” prosecutors wrote. “Delaying sentencing to give him further time to grow his podcast listenership would enable Santos to further use his criminal prosecution for personal benefit.”

“Justice delayed is justice denied”

Constituents in New York’s 3rd Congressional District formed an alliance two years ago to fight then-Rep. Santos, whose lies about his career and his past were unravelling before their eyes. They say their battle continues.

“It’s just egregious that someone like George Santos continues to try to rip off the public,” said Sally Marzouk of the group Nassau Residents for Good Government.

“He’s such a national joke now that I think it’s worth reminding everyone he did real and tangible harm,” said Kim Keiserman of Concerned Citizens NY-03.

“Santos was expelled in December in 2023. It has been well over a year since he’s been out of Congress. He belongs in prison. Why hasn’t he gone to prison? Justice delayed is justice denied,” said Jody Kass Finkel, also of Concerned Citizens NY-03.