'He is delusional': Expelled Rep George Santos mocked as he eyes return to Congress days after he said 'to hell with this place'

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Just days after facing bipartisan condemnation and expulsion from Congress over a scathing ethics report and revelations of a fabricated resume, former New York Rep George Santos is making headlines again as he contemplates a return to the political arena.  

This comes after the disgraced politician initially expressed disdain for Congress upon his unceremonious ouster on December 1, saying, "Why would I want to stay here? To hell with this place," as per The Daily Beast. 

George Santos' surprising declarations in a radio interview

Speaking in a radio interview with Frank Morano on Tuesday, December 12, Santos declared, "I'm not done with public service. I want to go back to Congress."

Despite his eagerness, he acknowledged the need to address various matters first.

He stated, "I’m not saying today. I’m not saying tomorrow. I have a lot of things I need to take care of first. I think we all know, but I do have hopes of trying to regain the trust of the American people and going there because I will continue to expose and root out the rot in our federal government."

The feat would be hard for Santos as he faces several federal criminal charges, including fraud, aggravated identity theft, conspiracy, and unauthorized political contributions.

Remarkably, Santos had positive words for the Department of Justice investigators, stating, "The DOJ has been above board, beyond reproach, and professional throughout this entire matter."

During the interview on 'The Other Side of Midnight' radio show, Santos criticized the ethics committee's handling of his case, describing it as a "political assassination" and "a joke of a process."

He asserted, "I’m not asking for people to like me. I’m not asking for people to have sympathy. I just want people to see the facts, and those are the facts."

Internet mocks George Santos as he expresses his desire to return to Congress

A barrage of reactions from netizens followed soon after Santos divulged on his wish to return to Congress.

One said, "He is delusional—why you anyone vote for Santos?"

Another added, "Expelled means expelled," while someone quipped, "He's a better fit for Dancing with the Stars." 

An individual joked, "Hell, why not president?" 

George Santos' plea negotiations and court proceedings

According to a December 11 court filing, Santos is actively engaged in plea negotiations, with the US Attorney's office aiming to resolve the case without going to trial.

"The parties are presently engaged in plea negotiations with the goal of resolving this matter without the need for a trial," stated US Attorney Breon Peace’s office in the filing.

Scheduled for a court hearing at Long Island, Santos has not ruled out the possibility of pleading guilty, acknowledging the ongoing conversations in light of his recent expulsion from Congress.

Asked if he is afraid of going to jail on CBS News' 'The Point', Santos responded, "I think everybody should be afraid of going to jail, it’s not a pretty place, and uh, I definitely want to work very hard to avoid that as best as possible."

As per reports, prosecutors are seeking an earlier trial date in case negotiations fail, a move contested by Santos' lawyer.

The expelled Congressman is said to have defrauded donors to his campaign, lied to Congress about his wealth, received unemployment benefits while employed, and used campaign contributions to pay for personal expenses like designer clothing.

He pleaded not guilty in October to additional charges that he made tens of thousands of dollars in unauthorized charges on credit cards belonging to some of his campaign donors.

George Santos' move of monetizing his notoriety

Santos has wasted no time capitalizing on his current notoriety owing to the expulsion. Launching a Cameo account, he offers personalized video messages for a fee and claims to have earned more in a week than his annual congressional salary.

Once considered a rising star after flipping a suburban district in New York, Santos' political career unraveled before he was even sworn into office.

Accusations of fabricating his life story, including false claims of Jewish ancestry and a fictional career on Wall Street, led to his historic expulsion from Congress.

In a televised interview, Santos reflected on his journey, stating, "The trial is not until September, and a plea is not off the table. So there’s obviously conversations taking place, especially after what happened in Congress, and we’ll see," referring to his expulsion.

As a special election is set for February 13 to elect Santos' House successor, the race is expected to feature former Democrat Rep. Thomas Suozzi against a host of Republican contenders, further shaping the political landscape in the district, as reported by the Associated Press.

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