Table of Contents
Expelled congressman reveals shocking behind-the-scenes dysfunction, misconduct, and hypocrisy before seven-year prison sentence.
Key Takeaways
- Santos faces seven years in federal prison for campaign finance violations while claiming other members commit worse offenses
- Congress operates like "an expensive high school" with rampant alcoholism, sexual misconduct, and institutional corruption
- Members regularly have sex in congressional storage areas known as "the cages" with no oversight or consequences
- Leadership knew appropriations chairwoman Kay Granger suffered from dementia for months while she controlled federal spending
- Santos claims AOC has $1 million unaccounted for from 2022 campaign funds with no prosecution
- Multiple members vote while intoxicated, handing voting cards to sober colleagues to cast ballots on their behalf
- Republicans and Democrats both engage in systematic campaign finance violations that would land ordinary citizens in prison
- Mike Johnson allegedly pressured Santos to resign just weeks after Santos helped elect him speaker
- Nancy Mace described as having "the worst staff turnover in Congress" due to erratic behavior and attention-seeking
The Countdown to Prison
George Santos sits just 24 days away from beginning a seven-year federal prison sentence, maintaining his innocence while preparing for what he describes as potentially "a death sentence." The former New York congressman, expelled from the House in December 2023, granted what may be his final interview before surrendering to federal authorities.
Santos received 87 months for campaign finance violations involving approximately $55,000 in misused funds. He contrasts his punishment with other cases, noting that a man who plotted to kill him received only probation, while child molesters in New York receive six-month sentences. The disparity highlights what Santos calls a politically motivated prosecution orchestrated at the highest levels of the Justice Department.
His legal team discovered that Attorney General Merrick Garland personally supervised the case, with prosecutors telling defense attorneys they needed to "go back to the AG" for major decisions. Santos claims he was denied first-time offender consideration and faced a judge who ignored Supreme Court precedent, particularly the Dubin decision regarding identity theft charges.
The former congressman admits to poor spending habits and campaign finance mistakes but maintains the prosecution went far beyond the actual crimes. He spent his final savings on legal defense as major banks including Wells Fargo and American Express terminated longstanding relationships, cutting off his ability to fund his defense effectively.
Santos faces placement in a medium-security facility despite being a non-violent first-time offender. As a gay man who admits he's "never had to fight a day in my life," he genuinely fears for his survival in federal prison. The only hope for clemency rests with President Trump, though Santos acknowledges many are advising against any intervention on his behalf.
Congressional Corruption Exposed
Santos systematically dismantled the myth of congressional integrity, revealing a institution riddled with financial irregularities that would land ordinary citizens in federal prison. His revelations paint a picture of systematic double standards where political connections determine prosecution decisions rather than actual criminal conduct.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez maintains $1 million in unaccounted campaign funds from her 2022 election cycle, according to Santos, with no federal investigation despite clear FEC reporting violations. Florida Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee "accidentally" took $5 billion from COVID relief funds instead of $5,000, with prosecutors accepting it as an innocent mistake requiring no criminal charges.
Former House member David Schweikert faced a four-year ethics investigation for campaign finance violations similar to Santos' charges but received only a $200,000 fine with no indictment. Santos became "the fastest member of Congress to get indicted in the history of Congress" at just 87 days into his term, while colleagues with worse violations faced no criminal consequences.
The campaign finance system itself operates as what Santos calls "entrapment" through ActBlue and WinRed recurring donation systems. Donors forget to uncheck automatic recurring donations, maxing out their contribution limits without realizing it. Proper campaign management requires constant monitoring and refund processing, but many operations deliberately exploit these oversights.
Santos admits to approximately $55,000 in questionable campaign expenditures including Botox treatments and clothing purchases. However, he maintains these expenses occurred openly through reported transactions rather than secret schemes. His treasurer Nancy Marx, who Santos claims committed worse violations on multiple campaigns, received only probation despite prior FBI encounters and manipulating other candidates' FEC reports.
The identity theft charges against Santos mirror actions taken by millions of undocumented workers using fake Social Security numbers daily, yet none face federal prosecution. This selective enforcement demonstrates how political targets receive treatment unavailable to ordinary Americans, regardless of comparable criminal conduct.
Sex, Drugs, and Congressional Misconduct
Santos pulled back the curtain on widespread sexual misconduct and substance abuse that permeates Capitol Hill, describing an environment where institutional dysfunction reaches shocking levels. His revelations expose how congressional leadership actively covers up behavior that would trigger criminal investigations in any other workplace.
Congressional storage areas known as "the cages" serve as regular locations for sexual encounters between members and staffers. Santos approached House Administration Committee chairman Bryan Steil about installing security cameras to deter this behavior, but was told they had "no time to focus on this" despite clear workplace violations occurring in federal buildings.
Former members were previously caught having sex with staffers in these same storage areas, which explains why leadership refuses to install deterrent measures. Santos learned that chiefs of staff openly acknowledge the sexual misconduct but treat it as unavoidable rather than addressable through proper oversight and accountability measures.
The Senate confirmation room became the site of a widely publicized sexual encounter involving a Democratic staffer, yet criminal charges never materialized despite the federal crime of lewd conduct on government property. The incident occurred in Amy Klobuchar's chair during what should have been a secure federal facility dedicated to constitutional duties.
Congressional reporters regularly receive inappropriate sexual advances from members who invite them to offices under false pretenses of providing news scoops. Multiple journalists have privately reported these incidents to Santos, demonstrating a pattern of predatory behavior enabled by the power dynamics inherent in congressional access.
Santos describes members who engage in consensual relationships with each other while married, though he declined to identify specific individuals. The overall environment treats sexual misconduct as entertainment rather than serious workplace violations requiring investigation and accountability.
The alcohol consumption reaches staggering levels, with members routinely appearing intoxicated for voting sessions. Santos witnessed colleagues consuming "half a bottle of scotch in one sitting or three bottles of wine" before official congressional duties, creating dangerous precedents for democratic governance and public safety.
The Alcoholism Crisis and Voting Fraud
Congressional alcoholism reaches crisis levels that would shock the American public, according to Santos, who witnessed systematic abuse that directly impacts legislative decisions and democratic processes. His firsthand accounts reveal how substance abuse compromises the fundamental operations of American democracy.
Members regularly appear so intoxicated during voting sessions that they cannot walk steadily or operate voting cards independently. Santos personally observed colleagues sitting in the Republican cloakroom "completely incapacitated" while handing their voting cards to sober members to cast ballots on their behalf.
This proxy voting system violates House rules and potentially constitutes federal fraud, as members vote while physically absent or mentally incapacitated. The practice occurs routinely during lengthy amendment battles involving 70 or more votes, where intoxicated members simply instruct others to "vote whichever way we're going to vote."
Democratic colleagues confirmed the same behavior occurs in their cloakroom, with freshman members from both parties acknowledging the widespread nature of alcohol-impaired governance. Santos characterized the entire situation as "a fucking show" that undermines any pretense of serious legislative deliberation.
Leadership shows no interest in addressing the alcohol crisis despite its obvious impact on congressional operations. Members treat intoxication as normal rather than problematic, creating an institutional culture where substance abuse becomes accepted practice rather than grounds for intervention or accountability.
The proxy voting extends beyond intoxication to pure convenience, with members traveling home while others cast their votes in Congress. Santos suggests cross-referencing FAA flight logs with congressional voting records to prove members voted while physically in different states, which would constitute clear federal fraud.
Flight records provide irrefutable evidence of when members departed Washington DC, making it mathematically impossible for them to participate in votes they're credited with casting. Yet congressional reporters lack the resources or access to investigate these obvious violations, allowing the fraud to continue unchecked.
Santos maintains detailed calendars and photo documentation of his whereabouts, contrasting with colleagues who routinely vote while absent. The technology exists to verify member presence during votes, but institutional resistance prevents implementation of basic accountability measures that would expose widespread fraud.
Leadership Betrayals and Political Theater
Santos revealed the calculated betrayals and performative politics that define congressional leadership, exposing how personal ambition trumps institutional integrity at every level. His insider account demonstrates how political theater takes precedence over genuine governance or principled decision-making.
Mike Johnson contacted Santos while he was "butt naked in a bathtub" during Thanksgiving weekend, just weeks after Santos helped orchestrate Johnson's speaker election. Johnson urged Santos to resign "so this doesn't stay on your record forever," despite Santos' crucial role in securing his leadership position through social media advocacy and conference lobbying.
Santos and Lauren Boebert had "harassed" Johnson to run for speaker during the prolonged leadership battle, with Santos telling Johnson "you're the only person in here that nobody dislikes." Johnson initially refused, claiming the other candidates were "like two big brothers to me," before ultimately entering the race and winning with Santos' support.
The resignation request came as a shock given Santos' instrumental role in Johnson's victory. Santos responded defiantly: "Put up or shut up. You can tell the guys I said that because I'm not leaving. They're going to have to kick me out." Johnson's betrayal became the catalyst for Santos emptying his office in preparation for expulsion.
Elise Stefanik received what Santos calls "a raw deal" in losing the UN Ambassador nomination, which he attributes to backstabbing within Republican leadership. Santos heard from multiple sources that Johnson lobbied President Trump to reconsider Stefanik's appointment due to concerns about her potential special election, prioritizing seat preservation over loyalty.
The Kevin McCarthy ouster revealed deep fractures in Republican leadership, with Santos witnessing Nancy Mace's dramatic "I" vote that sealed McCarthy's fate. Santos described Mace's vote as visceral and powerful, echoing through the chamber as the "final nail in his coffin" that caught everyone off guard.
During the speaker selection process, Santos broke protocol by live-tweeting conference deliberations and hosting Twitter Spaces to provide real-time updates to thousands of listeners. He refused to surrender his phone despite sequestration demands, declaring "I'm a fucking congressman. You're not taking my phone."
The Expulsion Machine
The systematic destruction of Santos reveals how Congress operates as a "machine" designed to eliminate members who threaten the established order, regardless of due process or proportional justice. His expulsion set dangerous precedents that weaponize ethics processes against political targets.
Santos was expelled without due process, conviction, or trial, based solely on what he calls "a political hit piece" masquerading as an ethics report. The report included false sexual assault allegations from Derek Meyer, an Ohio man later revealed to be under FBI investigation for wiretapping federal courtrooms.
Meyer's accusations fell apart when Santos provided detailed calendar records and photographic evidence disproving the alleged incidents. The ethics committee dismissed the sexual assault claims as lacking credibility, yet Ethics Committee chairman Michael Guest included the allegations in his expulsion resolution anyway.
Guest's expulsion resolution directly contradicted his own committee's findings, claiming Santos engaged in "sexual harassment and sexual misconduct" despite the committee exonerating him from these specific charges. This deliberate misrepresentation demonstrates how ethics processes can be manipulated for political purposes regardless of factual findings.
The expulsion required 105 Republicans to join all Democrats in removing a Republican member, breaking precedent and institutional norms. Santos notes the irony of Republicans joining Democrats to eliminate one of their own members, effectively reducing their already slim majority for political grandstanding.
Thomas Massie provided the principled opposition, declaring "I will not overturn the election results of the third district." This position honored the fundamental democratic principle that voters, not colleagues, should decide who represents them in Congress.
Santos lost "juice" immediately after expulsion, finding himself unable to mount effective legal defenses or political responses. The expulsion stripped away not just his position but his platform and resources, demonstrating how institutional punishment extends far beyond the official consequences.
The precedent enables future politically motivated expulsions based on allegations rather than convictions. Santos predicts this weaponization will continue, with ethics processes becoming tools of political warfare rather than legitimate accountability mechanisms designed to protect institutional integrity.
The Real Power Players
Santos identified the authentic relationships and influence networks that actually drive congressional operations, contrasting genuine friendships with performative political alliances. His perspective reveals which members operate with integrity versus those driven purely by self-interest and political calculation.
Tim Burchett emerged as Santos' primary mentor and advocate, reaching out through Marjorie Taylor Greene after Santos' disastrous Fox News appearance. Burchett's kindness stemmed from genuine Christian principles rather than political calculation, providing crucial emotional support during Santos' darkest moments.
Their offices sat diagonally across from each other, allowing Santos regular access to Burchett's guidance and counsel. Santos credits Burchett with teaching him that "we don't need to agree to be friends," demonstrating how personal relationships can transcend political differences when grounded in mutual respect.
Thomas Massie provided intellectual mentorship on complex votes and fiscal policy, patiently explaining legislation to help Santos understand issues he didn't fully grasp as a freshman. Massie's willingness to share knowledge without expecting automatic agreement exemplified principled leadership focused on institutional improvement rather than personal loyalty.
Matt Gaetz, Lauren Boebert, and Marjorie Taylor Greene formed Santos' core support network, with Gaetz serving as a "great recruiter" for the party due to his welcoming approach and lack of "preconceived notions about people." Their relationships preceded Santos' congressional service and survived his controversies.
Trent Kelly from Mississippi surprised Santos by forming a genuine friendship despite their vastly different backgrounds and constituencies. Their relationship demonstrates how personal chemistry can overcome regional, cultural, and political differences when members approach each other with openness and authenticity.
The Republican leadership largely abandoned Santos when politically convenient, with figures like Lisa McClain and Richard Hudson voting for expulsion despite previously expressing private support. This betrayal pattern reveals how institutional pressure and career preservation trump personal relationships and principled positions.
Santos maintains ongoing relationships with congressional sources who will provide inside information "for at least another decade and a half." These connections ensure his continued relevance as a congressional observer and commentator, regardless of his prison sentence or political exile.
Santos believes Congress needs a complete reset with new members across both parties, comparing the current dysfunction to a post-apocalyptic scenario where starting fresh might produce better governance than attempting to reform the existing corrupt system. His radical prescription reflects the depth of institutional rot he witnessed firsthand.
Congress operates as expensive political theater that produces minimal substantive policy while enriching those who master its performative aspects. Santos discovered that 95% of congressional activity focuses on messaging rather than serious governance, with real power residing in staff and lobbyists rather than elected members.
