History of George Santos in Timeline
George Santos is a former American politician and convicted felon who served as a U.S. representative for New York's 3rd congressional district in 2023 before being expelled from Congress. He initially ran for the seat unsuccessfully in 2020. After the incumbent opted not to run in 2022, Santos won the election, becoming the first openly LGBTQ Republican elected to Congress. His tenure was short-lived due to various controversies and ultimately his expulsion.
July 22, 1988: George Santos Born
On July 22, 1988, George Anthony Devolder Santos was born. He later became a U.S. Representative for New York.
1998: Parents' Marriage Ends
Around 1998, George Santos's parents' marriage ended. Gercino, his father, remarried in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
1999: Santos's Mother's Visa Application Claim
On her 2003 visa application, Santos's mother stated that she had not been in the country since 1999.
June 2001: Santos's Mother Living in Brazil
In June 2001, Fatima, George Santos's mother, reported that she was living in Brazil.
2003: Santos's Mother's Visa Application
On her 2003 visa application, Santos's mother stated that she had not been in the country since 1999.
2005: Citigroup Sells Asset Management Division
In 2005, Citigroup sold its asset management division, before the period George Santos claimed to be employed there.
2005: Started Dressing in Drag
In 2005, George Santos reportedly began dressing in drag, with some acquaintances stating that he competed as a drag queen in Brazilian beauty pageants.
2007: Trip to the U.S. with Expensive Materials for a Dress
In 2007, George Santos returned from a trip to the U.S. with expensive materials for a dress that were not available in Brazil at the time.
2008: Move to Niterói, Brazil
Around 2008, George Santos moved to Niterói in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Area, where his mother was living.
2008: Santos Forged Checks in Brazil
In 2008, while in Brazil, George Santos forged checks stolen from a man his mother was caring for, to buy R$1,313 (about US$700) worth of clothing.
2009: Rocco Oppedisano's Legal Issues
In 2009, Rocco Oppedisano, brother of Il Bacco's owner, had his permanent resident status revoked after guns and drugs were seized from his properties. This later created issues related to campaign donations.
2010: Santos Confessed to Check Fraud in Brazil
In 2010, George Santos confessed to police in Brazil for check fraud committed in 2008, before he was formally charged.
October 2011: Hired at Dish Network
In October 2011, George Santos began working as a customer service representative at a Dish Network call center in College Point, Queens. He handled calls from Portuguese-speaking customers.
October 2011: Santos Begins Working at Dish Network Call Center
In October 2011, George Santos began working as a customer service representative at a call center for Dish Network in College Point, Queens.
2011: Santos's Residence in Brazil Ends
George Santos's residence in Niterói, Brazil ended around 2011. Acquaintances were unsure if he lived or just visited Brazil during that period.
2011: Wikipedia User Claims to Have Acted in TV Shows
In 2011, a Wikipedia userpage created under the alias "Anthony Devolder" claimed that the account holder had acted in "Hannah Montana" and "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody".
2011: Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark Opened in 2011
In 2022, Santos claimed he was a producer for Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, but the musical opened in 2011 while Santos was living in Brazil and working at Dish Network.
July 2012: Santos Ends Employment at Dish Network Call Center
In July 2012, George Santos ended his employment as a customer service representative at a call center for Dish Network in College Point, Queens.
July 2012: Employment at Dish Network Ends
In July 2012, George Santos's employment as a customer service representative at Dish Network ended.
May 2013: Filing to Dissolve Santos's Marriage
In May 2013, a filing to dissolve George Santos's marriage was withdrawn in December of the same year.
December 2013: Santos Moves into Apartment with Roommates
In December 2013, Yasser Rabello, a onetime roommate, moved into an apartment with George Santos, his mother, sister, and later his boyfriend, finding that Santos' finances fluctuated wildly.
2013: FOPU Allegedly Founded by Santos
From 2013 George Santos claimed to have rescued over 2,500 animals as founder and operator of a charity called Friends of Pets United (FOPU).
2013: Brazilian Charges Against Santos
In 2013, Brazilian charges were filed against George Santos, which were later discovered by Pedro Vilarva in 2015.
2013: Brazilian Case Archived Due to Santos's Whereabouts Unknown
In 2013, the case against George Santos for check fraud was archived by a Brazilian court because authorities were unable to locate him.
2013: Santos Claims to be a Model
In late 2013, George Santos told a roommate that he was a model who had worked at New York Fashion Week and would be appearing in Vogue.
2013: Worked for HotelsPro
Sometime after 2013, George Santos worked for HotelsPro, a subsidiary of Turkey-headquartered MetGlobal.
July 2014: Immigration Petition Approved
In July 2014, George Santos filed a family-based immigration petition on his wife's behalf, which was approved, typically indicating that United States Citizenship and Immigration Services believed the marriage was valid.
September 2014: Hamilton Loans Money to Santos
In September 2014, Peter Hamilton made a loan to George Santos for moving expenses.
2014: Santos Locked Out of Apartment
During the summer of 2014, George Santos was locked out of his apartment and claimed he needed access to feed pet fish, which roommates disputed existed.
2014: Santos Signs Whitestone Apartment Lease
In 2014, George Santos signed a lease on an apartment in Whitestone.
2014: Santos Claims to be an NYU Business School Graduate
In 2014, Peter Hamilton recalled that George Santos claimed to be a graduate of NYU's business school but seemed not to know its name.
October 2015: Judgment Against Santos for Unpaid Loan
In October 2015, a small claims court judge ordered George Santos to pay Peter Hamilton $5,000 plus interest for an unpaid loan from September 2014.
2015: Relationship with Vilarva Sours
In early 2015, George Santos's relationship with Pedro Vilarva soured after Vilarva stopped believing Santos's promises. Vilarva believed that Santos had pawned his cell phone and discovered the 2013 Brazilian charges against Santos, leading him to move out.
January 2016: Santos Claims Robbery of Money Intended for Landlady's Attorney
In January 2016, George Santos claimed to have been robbed of money he was on his way to give to his former landlady's attorney in settlement of her eviction claim against him.
January 2016: Santos Claims to be Mugged
In mid-January 2016, George Santos told Queens Housing Court that he was mugged on his way to make a payment, but the NYPD has no record of the incident.
May 2016: GoFundMe Page Set Up
In May 2016, Anthony Devolder (one of Santos's aliases), set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for surgery to remove a life-threatening stomach tumor from Richard Osthoff's service dog.
October 2016: Santos's Address on Traffic Ticket
In October 2016, George Santos's former residence in Winter Park was given on a Florida traffic ticket issued to Santos.
2016: Santos Claims Family Could Not Afford Funeral
In 2016, following the death of George Santos's mother, a priest reported that Santos stated his family could not afford the funeral, leading to a collection at a memorial Mass to raise funds for the family.
2016: Pulse Nightclub Shooting
In November 2022, Santos referenced the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting, but changed his story about it a month later.
2016: Moved to Orlando, Florida
In early 2016, George Santos moved to Orlando, Florida, where HotelsPro was opening an office. He registered to vote and changed his driver's license to reflect his Florida residence.
January 2017: Service Dog Dies
In January 2017, Richard Osthoff's service dog died after GoFundMe funds raised by Santos were allegedly not received. GoFundMe banned Santos at the end of 2016.
March 2017: Fundraiser Held for Pet Rescue Operator
In March 2017, George Santos held a fundraiser for a pet rescue operator in the Bronx, promising to raise thousands of dollars, but only sent her a check for $400, leading her to stop working with him.
September 2017: Animal Rescue Groups Registration Requirement
From September 2017 animal rescue groups were required to register with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, a requirement that Santos's charity, FOPU, did not meet.
November 2017: Santos Charged with Theft by Deception
In November 2017, George Santos was charged with theft by deception in York County, Pennsylvania, after bad checks were written to an Amish dog breeder from his account for "puppies".
2017: Fundraiser for Veterinary Technician's Farm
In 2017, FOPU, with George Santos controlling the money, held a fundraiser event for a veterinary technician, charging $50 per attendee and raising $2,165 to repair her farm in New Jersey for animal rescue, but the technician claimed she never received the proceeds.
2017: Santos's Name Surfaces in Credit Card Skimming Scheme
In 2017, George Santos's name came up in an international credit card skimming scheme perpetrated by Brazilians in Seattle. A search found an empty FedEx box with a return address being one of Santos's former residences.
2017: Civil Judgment Entered Against Santos for Unpaid Rent
In 2017, a Queens court entered a civil judgment of $12,208 against George Santos in his third known eviction case. In housing court, he said he would seek emergency rental assistance, attributing his family's debt to his mother's illness.
2018: FOPU Operations End
Around 2018, Santos's alleged charity Friends of Pets United (FOPU) operations ceased.
March 2019: Santos Speaks at #WalkAway Foundation Event
At a March 2019 event held by the conservative #WalkAway Foundation, Santos (introducing himself as Anthony Devolder) claimed to have formed a group called United for Trump.
2019: Santos Claims Attendance at Horace Mann School
In 2019, George Santos claimed that he attended Horace Mann School as a child before withdrawing due to family hardship, a claim later denied by the school.
2019: Role at LinkBridge Investors
In 2019, George Santos worked for LinkBridge Investors. He was listed as a vice president in his campaign disclosure form and a company document, but the company president testified he was a freelancer.
2019: Formation of Campaign Committee and Initial Donations
Shortly after being formed in 2019, George Santos's campaign committee made its first donations, $9,000 total, to Trump's presidential campaign committee and two local Republican organizations.
January 2020: Began Working for Harbor City Capital
In January 2020, shortly after launching his first campaign for Congress, George Santos began working for Harbor City Capital, a Florida-based alternative investment firm that was later accused of running a Ponzi scheme.
January 2020: Santos Claims Jewish Ancestry on Cable Show
In a January 2020 appearance on Talking GOP, Santos claimed his maternal grandfather grew up Jewish and converted to Catholicism. He also claimed "we are all Jewish, at the end – because Jesus Christ is Jewish."
June 2020: Opened Harbor City Capital Office in Manhattan
In June 2020, George Santos opened an office for Harbor City Capital in Manhattan and became the firm's New York regional director.
July 2020: Santos Moves to Whitestone, Queens
In July 2020, George Santos and his partner moved to a rowhouse in Whitestone, Queens.
October 2020: Santos Claims Knee Replacement
In October 2020, George Santos claimed of having both knees replaced.
October 2020: Santos Claims Steve Israel Offered Support
On an October 2020 radio show, Santos claimed that Democratic former congressman Steve Israel offered him his support during an event hosted by the Council for a Secure America. Israel denied saying anything of the kind.
2020: Santos Described as "Walking Campaign-Finance Violation"
During George Santos's 2020 campaign, a consultant described him as "a walking campaign-finance violation", suggesting donors bypass contribution limits.
2020: Campaign Spending at Il Bacco Restaurant
During his two congressional runs in 2020 and 2022, George Santos reported spending over $25,000 at Il Bacco, a New York City restaurant. He also spent $19,000 for his election night victory party.
2020: Donations to Republican Candidates for State Office
During the 2020–22 election cycle, George Santos's campaign and PACs made over 20 donations to Republican candidates for state office, with no corresponding reports on FEC filings, raising concerns about transparency.
2020: Santos Allegedly Obtains Unemployment Benefits
During the COVID-19 pandemic, George Santos allegedly began obtaining unemployment benefits while drawing an annual salary of $120,000.
2020: No Questions Raised During 2020 Campaign
George Santos said that no one had raised any questions about his claims during his 2020 campaign.
2020: Supported Donald Trump's Re-Election
George Santos was president of United for Trump, a small New York-based group supporting Donald Trump's 2020 re-election campaign.
2020: Santos Claims to Have Paid Off MBA Student Loans
In 2020, George Santos claimed to have paid off his MBA student loans.
2020: Reported Net Worth and Harbor City Capital Income
In 2020, George Santos reported a net worth of $5,000 and $50,000 in income from Harbor City Capital, but later reports indicated significantly higher income and questionable loans.
2020: Santos Receives Extradition Warrant
In 2020, George Santos told a school friend that he had received an extradition warrant from Pennsylvania at his New York address regarding the 2017 theft by deception charges.
2020: Santos's 2020 Campaign Received Fictitious Donations
In 2020, George Santos's campaign received numerous contributions from fictitious or nonexistent names and addresses, processed through WinRed. Mother Jones reported this in late January 2023, noting that twelve donations, totaling $30,000, were from individuals who denied having donated. Some relatives of Santos were also reported to have made large donations which they denied making.
2020: Santos Claims Biracial Ancestry
In 2020, Santos claimed that he was biracial and that his Brazilian-born father had Angolan roots. Jewish Insider could not confirm this information.
2020: Unauthorized Charges on Contributor's Credit Card
In 2020, a contributor to George Santos's campaign discovered unauthorized charges on their credit card, totaling nearly $15,000 and made through WinRed. TPM reported that despite the contributor's decision not to continue supporting Santos, these charges were recorded.
2020: Santos Reiterates Claim of Attending Horace Mann School
In 2020, after Horace Mann School denied his attendance, George Santos asserted that he attended the school for six months in ninth grade, despite the school having no record of him under any variation of his name.
2020: Campaign Finance Discrepancies
In 2020, an examination of George Santos's campaign finance reports revealed discrepancies, including a donation to Trump's campaign exceeding the cycle limit and contributions to nonexistent or unrecorded Republican organizations.
2020: Santos Claims Charitable Work on Behalf of Children with Epidermolysis Bullosa
In his 2020 campaign biography, George Santos claimed he and his family had worked charitably on behalf of children born with epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a claim that was later refuted by EB charities.
2020: Marks and Tiffany Santos Established PAC Rise NY
In late 2020, after Santos lost the election to Suozzi, Marks and Tiffany Santos established a PAC called Rise NY, which later raised money from Santos donors who had exceeded the $2,900 limit for direct campaign contributions.
2020: Reported Income from LLC on Tax Return
The House Ethics Committee's investigation found that George Santos reported income from an LLC on his 2020 income tax return, even though he incorporated the LLC in May 2021.
January 6, 2021: Attended Trump's Save America Rally
On January 6, 2021, George Santos attended Trump's Save America rally at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., before a mob of Trump supporters attacked the Capitol.
January 2021: Alleged Vandalism Incident
In March 2022, Santos claimed that he left Whitestone because of an alleged vandalism incident that happened in January 2021.
April 2021: End of Unemployment Benefits
George Santos allegedly obtained $24,000 in unemployment benefits from mid-2020 to April 2021 while drawing an annual salary of $120,000.
April 2021: Received Payments from Harbor City Capital
Harbor City Capital paid George Santos at least through April 2021.
May 2021: Incorporated LLC and Applied for Business Account
In May 2021, George Santos incorporated an LLC and applied for a business account, claiming the organization made $800,000 in net profit every year and grossed $1.5M.
May 2021: Charges Against Santos Dropped
In May 2021, charges against George Santos for theft by deception were dropped after Tiffany Bogosian argued that the signatures on the checks were not Santos's, and after Santos ultimately paid the farmer who lodged the police report.
July 2021: Santos Claims Mother Died Due to 9/11
In July 2021, George Santos claimed that the death of his mother was a result of the 9/11 attacks.
July 2021: Loan to GADS PAC and Donation to Lee Zeldin's Campaign
In July 2021, George Santos loaned GADS PAC $25,000, which was then donated to Lee Zeldin's campaign, raising questions about the legality and ethical implications of the transaction.
August 2021: Endorsement from Elise Stefanik
In August 2021, U.S. representative Elise Stefanik endorsed George Santos and helped him raise over $100,000 at a fundraiser.
October 2021: Santos Claims Mother was 'caught up in ash cloud'
In October 2021, George Santos stated that his mother was "caught up in the ash cloud" during the 9/11 attacks but that she "never applied for relief" because the family could afford medical bills.
November 2021: Santos Claims He Wed Matheus Gerard
In November 2021, George Santos said that he and Matheus Gerard wed.
November 2021: Santos's Record Expunged
In November 2021, George Santos's record was expunged regarding the theft by deception charges.
November 2021: RedStone Strategies Formed
In November 2021, RedStone Strategies was formed after complaints from the Forte campaign about Red Strategies. Santos represented himself as its "managing partner" while signing a contract and used a RedStone email address in his capital introduction work.
November 2021: Suozzi Announced He Would Not Seek Reelection to Congress
In November 2021, Tom Suozzi announced that he would not seek reelection to Congress, improving Republicans' chances of winning the seat. George Santos ran unopposed for the Republican nomination.
December 2021: Confrontation Over Santos' Interest in Red Strategies
In December 2021, the House Ethics Committee reported that a witness working for the Forte campaign confronted George Santos about his failure to disclose his interest in Red Strategies. The witness noted Santos's name on the incorporation papers. Santos responded that he had merely bought into the company in August.
2021: Santos Promised Contributions to Rise Were for Building the Republican Party
During 2021, George Santos repeatedly told Intrater that contributions to Rise were being spent to build the Republican Party in New York.
2021: Unauthorized Charges Continued, Refunded by American Express
During 2021, a contributor to Santos's 2020 campaign continued to find unauthorized charges, totaling nearly $15,000, on their credit card made through WinRed. The full refund was later provided by American Express after WinRed initially failed to find a record of these transactions but eventually refunded $2,000.
2021: FEC Letters on Disclosure Report Problems
During 2021–22, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) wrote over 20 letters to George Santos's campaign about problems with its disclosure reports, including excessive contributions and insufficient loan information.
2021: Rise NY Made Santos' Rent Payments
For two months in 2021, Rise NY made George Santos's $2,600 rent payments and later paid $1,800 for three tickets for Santos and two guests to attend a gala sponsored by the Liberty Education Forum.
2021: Santos Recommended Red Strategies USA to Forte's Campaign
In 2021, Demauro, Forte's campaign manager, stated that George Santos recommended hiring Red Strategies USA as a consultant without disclosing his own interest in the firm. The agreement allocated 80 percent of raised funds to the firm, which Demauro believed the campaign was trying to obfuscate. Marks repeatedly ignored requests for bank statements, and paychecks were frequently late.
2021: Santos Claims Mugging in New York City
In 2021, George Santos claimed to have been mugged in New York City, losing his briefcase, watch, and shoes. His description included a comment that has been characterized as an "overtly racist" stereotype about Black people.
2021: Lavish Spending on Republican Fundraisers
In 2021, George Santos's campaign spent over $5,000 on flights and hotel stays for Republican fundraisers, a time when the next congressional election was almost two years away and he had no primary challenger, later escalating to $90,000.
2021: Unauthorized Contributions to Tina Forte's Campaign
In 2021, a donor's credit card was used for unauthorized contributions to Tina Forte, totaling $2,900 each. Similarly, another donor to Forte found a $5,800 charge on their card, far exceeding their intended donation. After complaints, refunds were issued.
2021: Marks Admits to Fabricating Contributions, Santos Indicted
In 2021, federal prosecutors revealed that Marks confessed to fabricating contributions from Santos's family members to make the campaign appear to have raised more than $250,000 from third parties. This allowed the campaign to qualify for assistance from the Republican National Committee (RNC) and discourage other candidates. Shortly after Marks's guilty plea, Santos was indicted on charges related to this scheme.
2021: Initial Campaign Finance Report
In early 2022, the campaign filed amended reports making changes to the expenses initially reported at the end of 2021.
2021: Funds Raised for Voter Registration Diverted to Outspoken Middle East
In late 2021, over $55,000 George Santos raised with the promise of registering voters was instead diverted to Outspoken Middle East, an LGBTQ news platform aimed at that region of the world.
2021: Missing Loan Records to GADS PAC
The House Ethics Committee found no record of George Santos's 2021 loan to GADS PAC in the bank records, further suggesting financial irregularities.
2021: RedStone Received Payments from Forte's Campaign
Throughout 2021, RedStone received $110,000 in 76 payments from Tina Forte's campaign, whose treasurer was also a co-owner of RedStone along with Marks and the Devolder Organization. Forte's campaign's FEC reports also showed some issues, such as many unnamed donors and $14,000 in reimbursements to the candidate for unnamed personal expenses.
February 2022: Personal Spending Discovered
In February 2022, George Santos spent $1,700 at two Atlantic City casinos, $1,500 at a pet store, and smaller amounts on JetBlue, various retailers, and the Adventureland amusement park using campaign funds.
March 2022: Santos Claims Vandalism Incident Forced Move From Whitestone
In March 2022, George Santos claimed that he left Whitestone due to an alleged January 2021 vandalism incident.
April 2022: Rise NY PAC Paid RedStone
In April 2022, Rise NY, a PAC established by Marks and Tiffany Santos, paid RedStone $6,000.
April 2022: Repayment of GADS PAC Loan
Starting in April 2022, GADS PAC, repaid Santos in four installments over two months for his loan from July 2021. Santos had effectively arranged for his campaign contributors to repay the loan, raising concerns about campaign finance practices.
May 2022: Campaign Financial Disclosure on Company Assets
In May 2022, George Santos's campaign financial disclosure said that his company's assets were in the $1M to $1.5M range.
July 2022: Estimated Revenue of Devolder Organization
In July 2022, Dun & Bradstreet estimated the revenue of George Santos's Devolder organization at less than $50,000.
July 2022: Joint Fundraiser with Beth Van Duyne
In July 2022, George Santos held a joint fundraiser with Texas representative Beth Van Duyne which later led to controversy when Van Duyne reported that her campaign had never received its share of the funds raised.
July 2022: Grenell Endorsed Santos
In July 2022, former ambassador Richard Grenell formally endorsed George Santos. Grenell was also involved with starting Outspoken and spoke at a Santos fundraiser around the same time.
August 2022: Santos Moves Out of Whitestone Residence
In August 2022, George Santos moved out of the Whitestone residence, leaving $17,000 in damages, but records showed he was still registered there when he voted that November.
September 2022: Dissolution of Company in Florida
In September 2022, George Santos's company, registered in Florida, was dissolved for failing to file annual reports.
September 2022: North Shore Leader Questions Santos's Background
In September 2022, The North Shore Leader questioned Santos's employment, financial disclosures, and claims of wealth. Other media outlets did not report on the matter until after the election.
November 2022: Santos Elected to Congress
Following Santos's November 2022 election to Congress, The Forward and Jewish Insider reported that Santos's claims about his family's alleged Jewish heritage were false on December 21, 2022.
November 2022: Santos Claims Company Lost Four Employees in Pulse Nightclub Shooting
In a November 2022 interview, George Santos claimed that his company "lost four employees" during the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando.
December 2022: Santos Admits to Unpaid Rent
As of December 2022, George Santos had yet to pay the rent he owed from 2017, stating he "completely forgot about it".
December 2022: Santos Changes Story About Pulse Nightclub Shooting
In December 2022, George Santos changed his story about the Pulse nightclub shooting, claiming that "We did lose four people that were going to be coming to work for the company that I was starting up in Orlando".
December 2022: Santos Claims Parents Survived 9/11 at World Trade Center
In December 2022, George Santos claimed that both of his parents survived being "down there" at the World Trade Center during the 9/11 attacks.
December 2022: Santos's Marriage Acknowledged
In December 2022, George Santos's marriage to a woman from 2012 to 2019, despite being out and living with men from 2013 on, was reported. He acknowledged the marriage, stating he loved his then wife but had been openly gay for at least a decade.
December 2022: Hamilton Confirms Judgment Unpaid
In December 2022, Peter Hamilton told The Times that the $5,000 judgment against George Santos from October 2015 had not been paid.
December 2022: FEC Letter on Disclosure Report Problems
In December 2022, the FEC wrote to Nancy Marks, then George Santos's fundraising treasurer, about problems with disclosure reports, including contributions from unregistered political organizations.
December 19, 2022: New York Times Reports Santos Lied About Biography
On December 19, 2022, after Santos had been elected to Congress but before he had taken office, The New York Times reported that he had lied about many aspects of his biography. His lawyer denied the allegations.
December 21, 2022: Reports Surface Contradicting Santos's Jewish Heritage Claims
On December 21, 2022, following Santos's November 2022 election to Congress, The Forward and Jewish Insider reported that Santos's claims about his family's alleged Jewish heritage were false.
December 26, 2022: Santos Claims to be 'Jew-ish'
During a December 26, 2022 interview, Santos said: "I never claimed to be Jewish. I am Catholic. Because I learned my maternal family had a Jewish background, I said I was 'Jew-ish'".
December 27, 2022: Republican Jewish Coalition Rejects Santos
On December 27, 2022, the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) asserted that Santos would no longer be welcome at RJC events because he had "'deceived' the organization and 'misrepresented' his Jewish heritage".
2022: Santos Claims to be Halakhically Jewish
At a meeting at the U.S.–Israel PAC a month before his 2022 election, Santos courted pro-Israel activists by falsely claiming to be "halakhically Jewish".
2022: Claimed Net Worth and Missing Loan
By 2022, George Santos claimed a net worth of $2.5 to $11 million but reported no U.S. property and had a missing $600,000 loan to his campaign, raising questions about his financial disclosures.
2022: 2022 Campaign Debt
By April 2024, George Santos’s 2022 campaign reported its debt had increased to nearly $800,000.
2022: Unauthorized Charges Continued, Refunded by American Express
During 2022, a contributor to Santos's 2020 campaign continued to find unauthorized charges, totaling nearly $15,000, on their credit card made through WinRed. The full refund was later provided by American Express after WinRed initially failed to find a record of these transactions but eventually refunded $2,000.
2022: Santos Claims Family Owns 13 Rental Properties
During his 2022 congressional campaign, George Santos claimed that he and his family owned 13 rental properties in New York, a claim he later admitted was false.
2022: Santos Claims to Be a Producer for Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark
During his 2022 congressional campaign, George Santos told prospective donors that he was a producer for the musical "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark," a claim denied by the show's lead producer.
2022: Campaign Spending at Il Bacco Restaurant
During his two congressional runs in 2020 and 2022, George Santos spent over $25,000 at Il Bacco, a New York City restaurant; he had also entertained prospective Harbor City clients there. Santos's 2022 campaign reports owing Il Bacco nearly $19,000 for its election night victory party.
2022: Santos Claims to Have Criticized Goldman Sachs at SALT Conference
In 2022, George Santos claimed that while employed at Goldman Sachs seven years earlier, he had attended the SALT Conference and criticized the company's investment in renewable energy; however, Anthony Scaramucci stated there was no record of Santos ever attending the conference.
2022: Unitemized Expenditures
In 2022, George Santos's amended report revealed 1,200 separate payments of $199.99, totaling over $250,000, leading to questions about unitemized expenditures and potential campaign finance violations.
2022: Questions About Santos's Purported Brain Tumor
In 2022, George Santos's campaign did not give details or answer questions about his purported brain tumor.
2022: Lack of Evidence for FOPU's Existence Found
In 2022, The Times found little evidence of the existence of Santos's alleged charity FOPU, other than a closed Facebook account.
2022: Ethics Committee Found Unreported Transfers
In 2022, the House Ethics Committee found "numerous unreported transfers to and from the campaign bank account" while reviewing bank records for Rise, RedStone and Santos's businesses. Some transfers went to accounts under Marks's control, $10,000 to the Devolder Organization, and $50,000 went between Rise and the campaign.
2022: New York Congressmen Call for Santos's Resignation
In January 2023, only eight days after the start of his tenure, four Republican New York congressmen who had also been elected in 2022, along with Joseph Cairo, called for Santos to resign from Congress.
2022: Santos Calls Abortion Barbaric
In a 2022 speech to the Whitestone Republican Club in Whitestone, Queens, Santos called abortion "barbaric" and compared it to slavery.
2022: Amended Campaign Finance Reports
In early 2022, George Santos's campaign filed amended reports, including upward adjustments to expenses, such as a $60 meal at a Michigan sushi restaurant now reported as $199.99, raising suspicion about reporting practices.
2022: Santos Refers to Purported Jewish Ancestry
Santos did not otherwise make much mention of his purported Jewish ancestry during his 2020 run, but referred to it frequently in 2022 when all the candidates seeking the Democratic nomination to replace Suozzi were Jewish.
2022: Campaign Website Revised to Remove Mention of EB
Sometime during 2022, George Santos's campaign website was revised to remove the mention of epidermolysis bullosa (EB), instead stating that charitable efforts were directed at "helping at-risk children and America's veterans".
January 2023: Santos Falsely Claims to be a 'Star Player' on Baruch Volleyball Team
In January 2023, George Santos falsely told a Republican Party chairman that he had been a "star player" on the Baruch volleyball team, winning the league championship and defeating Yale University, despite Yale not having a men's varsity volleyball team at the time.
January 2023: Accusations of Stolen GoFundMe Funds
In January 2023, Richard Osthoff and Michael Boll accused George Santos of stealing funds that were donated to a GoFundMe fundraiser for Osthoff's service dog's surgery.
January 2023: Rio de Janeiro Prosecutors Revive Fraud Charges
In January 2023, Rio de Janeiro prosecutors announced they would revive the fraud charges against George Santos, because they knew of his whereabouts.
January 2023: Ethics Complaint Filed, Formal Inquiry Announced
In January 2023, Ritchie Torres and Dan Goldman, House Democrats from New York, filed an ethics complaint with the House Ethics Committee regarding Santos's financial disclosure reports. In March, the House Ethics Committee announced a formal inquiry and created a subcommittee to investigate allegations of improper financial disclosures, sexual misconduct, and conflict of interest.
January 2023: Treasurer Denies Involvement in Campaign
In January 2023, reports listed Thomas Datwyler as George Santos' campaign treasurer, but Datwyler denied any involvement, claiming his name was forged. The FEC subsequently requested clarification from the Santos campaign regarding this discrepancy.
January 2023: Complaints Filed Against Santos
In January 2023, the Campaign Legal Center (CLC) filed a complaint with the FEC alleging misuse of campaign funds, concealed funding sources, and falsified expenditures by George Santos. Simultaneously, End Citizens United (ECU) filed separate complaints with the FEC, DOJ, and Office of Congressional Ethics. Additionally, Accountable.US filed another FEC complaint by the end of the week, alleging over $100,000 in excessive contributions.
January 2023: Fictitious Donations to Santos' 2020 Campaign Discovered
In late January 2023, Mother Jones revealed that many contributions to George Santos's 2020 campaign were attributed to fictitious or nonexistent names and addresses via WinRed. Additionally, $30,000 in contributions were allegedly from real people who denied making those donations. Relatives of Santos also denied making reported donations.
January 2023: McCarthy Addresses Questions About Santos' Resume and Miele's Actions
In mid-January 2023, Kevin McCarthy addressed the questions about George Santos's falsified resume. Santos's campaign paid $50,000 to Miele, who impersonated Kevin McCarthy's chief of staff. Some contributors said they felt cheated after Santos's false claims about Wall Street experience and being Jewish were revealed.
January 21, 2023: Bowen Yang Portrays Santos on SNL
On January 21, 2023, Bowen Yang portrayed George Santos on Saturday Night Live in its cold open and Weekend Update segments.
January 24, 2023: Deadline to Correct FEC Violations
George Santos's campaign had until January 24, 2023, to correct FEC violations outlined in a December 2022 letter, including contributions from unregistered political organizations and insufficient disclosures.
February 2023: Santos Not Identified as Suspect in Credit Card Skimming Scheme
As of February 2023, George Santos has not been identified as a suspect in the 2017 international credit card skimming scheme, though the case remains open.
February 2023: Sexual Harassment Complaint Filed Against Santos
In February 2023, Derek Myers filed a sexual harassment complaint against George Santos with the House Ethics Committee, alleging inappropriate touching and violation of House rules.
February 2023: Santos Denies Handling FOPU Finances
In February 2023, George Santos said he "never handled the finances" of FOPU, despite claims from volunteers and groups that dealt with FOPU that he seemed to be the only person who did so.
February 2023: Santos Solicited Contributions to Rise Despite No Official Connection
In February 2023, Mother Jones reported that George Santos regularly solicited contributions to Rise, despite having no official connection, and personally delivered checks from it. Additionally, in late 2021, over $55,000 Santos raised with the promise of registering voters was diverted to Outspoken Middle East.
February 2023: Santos Co-sponsors Bill to Designate AR-15 as National Gun
In February 2023, Santos co-sponsored a bill to designate the "AR-15–style rifle" the National Gun of the United States.
February 2023: Report of Additional Unpaid Amish Dog Breeders
In February 2023, The Washington Post reported that three other Amish dog breeders allegedly were never paid by George Santos but never filed police reports.
February 2023: Santos Blames Résumé Lies on Local Republican Party
In February 2023, during a Newsmax interview, George Santos blamed his résumé lies on the local Republican Party, later stating that a campaign staffer had written his résumé after being expelled from the House.
February 2023: Santos Insists Mother Was at World Trade Center During 9/11 Attacks
In February 2023, during an interview with Piers Morgan, George Santos insisted that his mother was at the World Trade Center during the 9/11 attacks and defended her legacy.
March 11, 2023: Yang Reprises Santos Role on SNL
On March 11, 2023, Bowen Yang reprised his role as George Santos on Saturday Night Live, parodying the red carpet at the 2023 Oscars.
March 12, 2023: Jimmy Kimmel Jests About Santos at the Oscars
While hosting the 95th Academy Awards on March 12, 2023, Jimmy Kimmel joked that George Santos was the "last directing team to win an Oscar."
March 2023: Reported Yacht Sale
In March 2023, George Santos reportedly brokered a $19 million yacht sale between two major campaign contributors, sparking concerns about potential campaign finance violations.
March 2023: Randy Rainbow Parodies Santos in Musical Skit
In March 2023, comedian Randy Rainbow parodied George Santos in a musical skit titled "Life's a F***ing Fantasy for Santos," a take off on "Jolly Holiday" from Mary Poppins.
March 2023: Plea Bargain Announced
In March 2023, prosecutors announced a plea bargain with George Santos regarding the fraud charges.
April 2023: Unreceived Funds from Joint Fundraiser
In April 2023, Texas representative Beth Van Duyne reported that her campaign had never received its share of a joint fundraising committee (JFC) created for a fundraiser held with Santos in July 2022, raising concerns about potential misuse of funds.
April 2023: Santos Announces Re-election Bid
In April 2023, the Santos campaign announced that he would seek re-election in 2024.
May 2023: Santos Claims Jewish Ancestry Vindicated by DNA Test Kits
In 2023 media appearances, Santos claimed that his claim to Jewish ancestry was vindicated by DNA test kits in May; however, he did not reveal the DNA information. Santos said he was raised Catholic but considered himself a "member of the tribe" because his mother's ancestry was predominantly Jewish.
May 2023: Santos Settles Bad Check Charges
In May 2023, George Santos formally settled the bad check charges, agreeing to pay 24,000 Brazilian reais (almost US$5,000), with most compensating the defrauded salesman and the remainder donated to charity.
May 2023: Santos Indicted on 13 Criminal Charges
In May 2023, a grand jury indicted George Santos on 13 criminal charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, and making false statements to the House of Representatives.
May 2023: Democrats Introduce Resolution to Expel Santos
In May 2023, after Santos was indicted on federal charges, Robert Garcia and other House Democrats introduced a resolution to expel Santos from the House. The House approved a motion to send the resolution to the Ethics Committee.
May 2023: Santos Files New FEC Paperwork and Hires New Treasurer
In May 2023, following his indictment, George Santos filed new FEC paperwork listing himself as treasurer. A day later, he hired Jason D. Boles, who had previously worked as a treasurer for Marjorie Taylor Greene. CREW also filed another FEC complaint, alleging that Olson, a name associated with the campaign, was fictitious.
May 2023: Ethics Committee Expanded Investigation
In May 2023, the House Ethics Committee expanded its investigation into George Santos to include the unemployment fraud alleged in the federal indictment. The committee sought the cooperation of 40 witnesses and subpoenaed 30 others.
June 2023: Prosecutors Provide Evidence to Santos's Lawyers
By June 2023, prosecutors turned over 80,000 pages of material to George Santos's lawyers regarding his indictment.
July 2023: Campaign Funds Raised and Refunded
In July 2023, George Santos's campaign reported raising $133,000 but refunded $85,000 to him, with many donors linked to Chinese billionaire Miles Guo.
July 2023: Suspicions of Inflated WinRed Fees by Red Strategies USA
In July 2023, Tina Forte's campaign manager suspected Red Strategies USA, partly owned by George Santos, of inflating WinRed's fees in campaign reports. For example, $35,000 in "credit card fees" was reported when WinRed typically charges only 4%, suggesting an excessive amount given the campaign's fundraising. NBC News found similar discrepancies in Santos's campaign's use of WinRed.
July 2023: Santos's Office Lags in Constituent Service
Roll Call reported in July 2023 that Santos's office lagged behind those of members from neighboring districts in handling constituent service requests.
August 2023: Santos Downplays False Claims Related to Job History
In August 2023, George Santos downplayed the significance of his false or exaggerated claims regarding his job history, asserting that most people lie on their résumés.
August 2023: Santos Initially Declines Plea Deal
In August 2023, George Santos said he would not consider a plea deal at the time.
September 2023: Late Financial Disclosures Filed
In September 2023, George Santos filed his personal financial disclosures 20 months late, revealing discrepancies between his reported net worth and income.
October 5, 2023: Marks Pleads Guilty to Campaign Finance Violations
On October 5, 2023, Marks pleaded guilty in federal court in Long Island to numerous campaign finance violations and a plea agreement recommended a prison sentence of 42 months to four years.
October 7, 2023: Santos Suggests Police State After Hamas Attack
After the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, Santos said, "I think every inch of the United States at this point should be mapped out again and completely checked. I don't care if we go into a police state for a couple of months."
October 2023: Expulsion Vote Fails
Following the failure of an October 2023 vote to expel him from the House, Santos indicated he would run again in 2024 even if expelled.
October 2023: Santos Denies Knowing Osthoff
In October 2023, George Santos denied even knowing Richard Osthoff to the Times, which reported having text messages suggesting otherwise. The FBI is investigating Osthoff's allegations.
October 2023: Santos Claims Niece Vanished from Playground
In October 2023, George Santos told the Times that a few months earlier, his niece had vanished from a Queens playground, only to be found 40 minutes later in the company of two Chinese men, claiming it was retaliation for his opposition to the Chinese Communist Party. Investigators found no evidence to support the story and suspected it had been invented.
October 2023: Superseding Indictment on Credit Card Fraud Charges
In October 2023, George Santos was accused in a superseding indictment of unauthorized use of donor credit cards, leading to charges of aggravated identity theft and credit card fraud.
October 2023: Indictment for Credit Card Fraud and Identity Theft
In October 2023, George Santos's indictment suggests at least $11,000 was spent on luxury items using money obtained through credit card fraud and identity theft, allegedly diverting donor funds.
November 2023: Santos Promises Proof of Grandparents' Ancestry
In 2023, Santos reportedly said in November that he was "finishing getting the last pieces" of evidence that his grandparents, after emigrating to Brazil, had forged documents that enabled them to "blend in and all of that".
November 2023: Funeral Home Never Received Payment for Santos's Mother's Funeral
In November 2023, Vanity Fair reported that the funeral home never received the $6,000 it was owed for the services provided for Santos's mother's funeral.
November 2023: Santos Reverses Course, Will Not Seek Re-election
In November 2023, after the House Ethics Committee's report made further fraud allegations against Santos, he reversed course and announced that he would not seek re-election.
December 1, 2023: Expulsion from the House of Representatives
On December 1, 2023, the House of Representatives voted to expel George Santos following an investigation by the House Ethics Committee and a federal indictment. He is the first member of Congress expelled without having previously been convicted of a crime or having supported the Confederacy.
December 2023: Expulsion from Congress
In December 2023, George Santos was expelled from the U.S. Congress, ending his term as the U.S. representative for New York's 3rd congressional district.
December 2023: Movie on Santos's Life in Development
In December 2023, a movie on George Santos's life was reported to be in development by Frank Rich for HBO Films.
2023: Trelha Accuses Santos of Urging Credit Card Skimming
In 2023, Gustavo Ribeiro Trelha made a sworn declaration to the FBI that he had committed the crime at the urging of George Santos, who had also taught him how to set up the skimmer and camera and clone ATM and credit cards.
2023: Vilarva Discusses Santos's Finances and Work
In 2023, Pedro Vilarva, Santos's boyfriend at the time of the lease in 2014, told the Times that Santos claimed to be expecting money from investment work at Citigroup, but he never went to work.
2023: Santos Attends Trump Rally
In 2023, Santos attended a rally of supporters outside the Manhattan courthouse where Donald Trump was arraigned on felony charges of falsifying business records.
2023: Santos Votes With House Republican Leadership
In 2023, Santos voted in favor of key bills supported by the House Republican leadership. After his indictment in May, House Republican leadership reiterated that they would not seek to force Santos to resign or expel him from the House.
2023: Santos Votes Against Fiscal Responsibility Act
In 2023, Santos was among the 71 Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.
2023: Speculation of Campaign Contribution Evasion
In 2023, campaign finance lawyer Brett Kappel speculated that the failure to share funds from a JFC might indicate that George Santos's campaign was using the committee to evade campaign contribution limits, sparking further investigation.
2023: Santos's Claims Resurface
In early 2023, the video of Santos's January 2020 appearance on Talking GOP resurfaced.
2023: House Democrats Announce Resolution to Censure Santos
Later in 2023, House Democrats announced they would introduce a resolution to censure Santos. Five New York Republicans who had already called on Santos to resign said they would vote for censure, as did Ohio Republican Max Miller.
February 2024: Santos Lashes Out After Special Election Loss
After Suozzi won the February 2024 special election to fill Santos's seat, leaving the House Republicans with an even narrower majority, Santos lashed out at his former Republican colleagues who had voted to expel him in a group text.
February 2024: Santos Sues Jimmy Kimmel
In February 2024, George Santos sued Jimmy Kimmel, ABC, and The Walt Disney Company for $750,000, claiming Kimmel intended to "ridicule" him after Kimmel aired Cameo videos he paid for.
March 22, 2024: Santos Leaves Republican Party
On March 22, 2024, Santos announced his departure from the Republican Party, stating that he could not affiliate himself with a party that stands for nothing. He intended to continue his congressional campaign as an independent.
April 2024: Campaign Debt Increase
By April 2024, George Santos’s 2022 campaign reported no fundraising or spending, but its debt had increased to nearly $800,000, primarily from loans claimed to be from Santos personally.
April 2024: Santos to Revive Drag Persona
In April 2024, George Santos announced he would revive his Kitara drag persona for Cameo videos, promising to donate 20 percent of the proceeds to charity.
April 23, 2024: Santos Drops Out of Race
On April 23, 2024, Santos dropped out of the race for New York's 1st congressional district.
May 2024: Santos Moves to Dismiss Charges
In May 2024, George Santos moved to have some of the charges dismissed, relying on the Supreme Court ruling in the Dubin case to argue against the applicability of the identity theft statute.
August 2024: Pleaded Guilty to Identity Theft and Wire Fraud
In August 2024, George Santos pleaded guilty to identity theft and wire fraud.
August 19, 2024: Santos Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Identity Theft
On August 19, 2024, George Santos pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft as part of a plea deal. He admitted to committing the other crimes he was charged with, accepting full responsibility for his actions and acknowledging his ambition had clouded his judgment, leading to unethical decisions.
2024: Santos States he is Running for Reelection
After his arraignment for indictment, George Santos told reporters in May 2023 that he was still running for reelection in 2024.
2024: Santos Announces Run for New York's 1st Congressional District
During the 2024 State of the Union Address in March, Santos announced that he would run for the House in New York's 1st congressional district, challenging incumbent Republican Nick LaLota.
2024: Santos Plans to Run Again
Following the failure of an October 2023 vote to expel him from the House, Santos said he would run again in 2024 even if he was expelled from the House before the election.
2024: Santos Declares Candidacy for 2024 Elections
In 2024, the FEC informed George Santos that his campaign had raised over $5,000 without debts, officially recognizing him as a candidate for the 2024 elections. He was given until March 14 to declare his candidacy, after which Santos filed a statement confirming his intention to run.
2024: Party Chairs Withdraw Support
In 2024, the state's Conservative and Republican Party chairs announced they would not support Santos's re-election bid.
2024: Boles Listed as Treasurer in Paperwork
In 2024, upon filing new paperwork following his announcement of candidacy, Jason Boles was listed as the treasurer for George Santos' campaign.
2024: Expulsion Motion Fails
On November 1, 2023 the expulsion motion failed 213–179. In 2024, Santos dismissed the resolution as a political stunt.
February 7, 2025: Santos's Initial Sentencing Date
February 7, 2025, was initially scheduled for George Santos's sentencing. Federal guidelines suggested a 6–8 year sentence, with a maximum of 22 years. He was also required to pay restitution and forfeit additional funds.
March 2025: Sam Miele Sentenced to Prison
In March 2025, Sam Miele, a consultant for George Santos, was sentenced to a year and a day in prison for unauthorized use of donor credit cards and lying about campaign expenditures, including defrauding one donor of $470,000. Miele had previously admitted to these actions.
April 2025: Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison
In April 2025, George Santos was sentenced to 87 months in prison, which he will begin serving in July.
April 2025: Sentencing Memoranda Filed
In April 2025, both the prosecution and Santos's lawyers filed sentencing memoranda with the court. Prosecutors requested a sentence exceeding seven years, citing Santos's deception, while his lawyers sought the minimum sentence of two years, attributing his actions to desperation related to his political campaign. Santos responded on X, declaring he would not succumb to their tactics.
May 2025: Santos Gives Up Seeking Federal Pardon
In May 2025, George Santos stated he had given up seeking a federal pardon.
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