George Santos has never met a lie he couldn’t love — and now, the disgraced former congressman is getting seven years to reflect on every single one of them. The first out gay Republican elected to Congress flamed out in glitter and grift, sentenced to 87 months in prison for a smorgasbord of federal crimes including wire fraud, identity theft, and a masterclass in political deception.
On the eve of his prison debut, Santos served up one final dramatic post to his dwindling audience: “The curtain falls, the spotlight dims, and the rhinestones are packed,” he wrote, adding that the wild ride from Capitol Hill to cable chaos was somehow “glamorous.” Santos, who famously lied about working on Wall Street, graduating college, and even claimed his mother died in 9/11 (she didn’t — it was 2016), also said he “tried to be honest most days.”
That last line would almost be funny if it weren’t so tragic.
The 37-year-old’s crimes weren’t just political theater — they were real, costly frauds that bled campaign donors and deceived Congress. Prosecutors detailed schemes where Santos forged diplomas, doctored financial disclosures, and stole donor identities. One stunt saw him charge $12,000 to a donor’s credit card and pocket the funds. And it didn’t stop there — fake nonprofits, faked resumes, and the audacity of calling it all a cabaret act made his downfall inevitable.
The Queen of Con’s Final Bow
The spectacle ended in December 2023 when Santos became the first openly gay lawmaker to be booted from Congress — not exactly the milestone the LGBTQ community hoped for. Judge Joanna Seybert didn’t sugarcoat it: Santos got into office “with your words, most of which were lies.”
Before surrendering to authorities on July 25, Santos declared that “legends never truly exit,” and promised he’d request solitary confinement. Maybe that’s to keep the sequins safe.
Let’s be clear: George Santos is not a cautionary tale about LGBTQ people in politics — he’s a cautionary tale about con artists in power. While some are quick to turn his sexual orientation into tabloid fodder, the LGBTQ community deserves better than to be lumped into his flamboyant fraud. Being gay isn’t the scandal here — the scandal is the scam.
For a generation of LGBTQ youth watching politics for signs of hope, Santos served up drag personas and delusion instead of dignity and leadership. This wasn’t representation; it was reality TV in a congressional seat.
Still, even in disgrace, he’s working the angles. Santos hinted he might revive his drag alter ego, Kitara Ravache, to fundraise for charity from behind bars. It would almost be cute if it weren’t so painfully on brand.
Now, with more than seven years to reflect, Santos exits stage left. And while he may still think of himself as a “legend,” the only thing legendary here is the fraud.