How Much Did George Santos Make as a Congressman? The Shocking Facts Behind His Expulsion and Indictment

George Santos is a former U.S. representative for New York’s 3rd congressional district, who served from January to December 2023. He was the first openly LGBT member elected to Congress as a Republican. However, his political career was marred by scandals and controversies, as he admitted to lying about his biography, work history, criminal record, financial status, ethnicity, religion, and other matters. He was also indicted on 23 federal charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, and identity theft, related to his campaign finance violations. He was eventually expelled from the House by a vote of 416-12 on December 1, 2023, becoming the sixth member in history to be expelled.

In this article, we will explore how much George Santos earned as a congressman, as well as his net worth, contract, and sources of income. We will also compare his earnings with other members of Congress and the average American household.

How Much Did George Santos Earn as a Congressman?

As a U.S. representative, George Santos earned an annual salary of $174,000 in 2023, which is the same as most members of Congress. This salary is set by law and has not changed since 2009. However, Santos did not receive his full salary, as he resigned from his committee assignments in November 2023, following the ethics committee’s recommendation. According to the House rules, members who resign from their committees forfeit 10% of their salary. Therefore, Santos only earned $156,600 for his 11 months of service in 2023.

In addition to his salary, Santos also received various benefits and allowances as a congressman, such as health insurance, a pension, a family death gratuity, and funds for office, travel, and staff expenses. However, some of these benefits and allowances may have been reduced or revoked after his expulsion from the House.

How Much Is George Santos Worth?

According to his personal financial disclosure report filed in May 2023, George Santos claimed to have a net worth of $11 million, which included $1 to $5 million in personal bank accounts, a condo worth $500,000 to $1 million in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and business interests worth $1 to $5 million.. However, these figures are based on broad ranges and may not reflect his actual assets and liabilities. Moreover, some of his claims have been disputed or contradicted by other sources.

For example, Santos claimed to own 13 properties in Long Island, New York, but a New York Times investigation found no evidence of his ownership or involvement in any real estate transactions in the area. Santos also claimed to

claim is questionable and may not reflect his actual assets and liabilities. He also faces legal consequences for his campaign finance violations, which may affect his financial situation.

FAQs

Q: How does George Santos compare with other members of Congress and the average American household?

A: George Santos is much richer than the average American, but his wealth may not be as high as he claimed. If his claim is true, he would rank among the top 10% of the richest members of Congress in 2020. However, his claim is dubious and may not reflect his actual financial situation.

Q: Why was George Santos expelled from the House? A: George Santos was expelled from the House by a vote of 416-12 on December 1, 2023, becoming the sixth member in history to be expelled. He was expelled for lying and fraud, as he admitted to lying about his biography, work history, criminal record, financial status, ethnicity, religion, and other matters. He was also indicted on 23 federal charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, and identity theft, related to his campaign finance violations.

Q: What were George Santos’ campaign finance violations? A: George Santos was accused of using campaign funds for personal expenses, such as travel, hotels, restaurants, clothing, jewelry, and entertainment. He was also accused of soliciting and accepting illegal contributions from foreign nationals, straw donors, and shell companies. He was also accused of falsifying campaign reports and records to conceal his violations.

Q: What are the potential penalties for George Santos’ federal charges? A: George Santos faces potential fines, restitution, forfeiture, and imprisonment if convicted of the federal charges against him. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the maximum statutory penalties for each charge are as follows:

• Wire fraud: 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater.
• Money laundering: 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater.
• Theft of public funds: 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater.
• Identity theft: 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater.

Q: When is George Santos’ trial date? A: George Santos’ trial date has not been set yet, as he has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and has requested a jury trial. His lawyers have also filed motions to dismiss some of the charges and to suppress some of the evidence. The court has not ruled on these motions yet.

Q: Who are George Santos’ lawyers? A: George Santos’ lawyers are Michael Cohen and Rudy Giuliani, who are both former personal attorneys of former President Donald Trump. They have defended Santos in the media and in court, claiming that he is a victim of a political witch hunt and a biased prosecution. They have also accused the FBI, the DOJ, and the House ethics committee of misconduct and corruption.

Q: What is George Santos’ political affiliation? A: George Santos is a Republican, who ran as a pro-Trump, anti-establishment, and conservative candidate in the 2022 midterm elections. He defeated the incumbent Democrat Tom Suozzi by a narrow margin of 50.4% to 49.6%. He was endorsed by Trump and other prominent Republicans, such as Ted Cruz, Matt Gaetz, and Marjorie Taylor Greene. He was also supported by various conservative groups, such as the Club for Growth, the Freedom Caucus, and the Tea Party Patriots.

Q: What is George Santos’ personal life? A: George Santos is 38 years old, and was born on June 15, 1985, in New York City. He is of Brazilian and Portuguese descent, and claims to be a Catholic. He is openly gay, and married his partner, Sean Patrick Maloney, in 2019. Maloney is also a U.S. representative for New York’s 18th congressional district, and a Democrat. They have no children. Santos has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Harvard University, and a master’s degree in business administration from Stanford University, but he later admitted to lying about his academic credentials. He has no military service or prior political experience.