George Santos Bids Farewell Before Entering Prison: ‘Legends Never Truly Exit’

Disgraced former congressman George Santos posted a farewell post before entering prison, where he is set serve more than seven years over campaign-related crimes.

“From the halls of Congress to the chaos of cable news, what a ride it’s been! Was it messy? Always, Glamorous? Ocassionally? Honest? I tried… most days,” reads a passage of the post.

“To my supporters: You made this wild political cabaret worth it. To my critics: Thanks for the free press. I may be leaving the stage (for now,) but trust me legends never truly exit. Forever fabulously yours, George,” the publication adds.

Santos made a last-ditch attempt to get a pardon from President Donald Trump, but said in May he had given up all hope.

“The so called “friends” I have that said they’d help legit should have just told me to go f— myself, because that’s what has essentially happened with their actions. I’ve accepted my fate and don’t want to talk about it anymore,” Santos said on social media back then.

The former lawmaker had appeared on on “Piers Morgan Uncensored” earlier that month, tearfully asking Trump to consider a pardon, commutation, or clemency ahead of his scheduled surrender to federal custody on July 25.

Santos, 36, said he was “not an altar boy,” but also “not a hardened criminal,” and argued that his punishment was disproportionate for a first-time offender. “I’ll take a commutation, clemency, whatever the president is willing to give me,” Santos said, while adding he was “not entertaining a pardon.”

Santos, elected in 2022 as the first openly gay Republican nonincumbent in Congress, quickly fell from grace after reports revealed he fabricated much of his personal and professional background. In May 2023, he was indicted on 23 counts of wire fraud, identity theft, and other offenses related to misusing donor funds and falsely reporting campaign finances.

Santos pleaded for mercy before learning his fate, telling the court that he was “humbled” and “chastised.” He added that he was aware he had betrayed his constituents’ trust. “I cannot rewrite the past, but I can control the road ahead,” he said.

The judge, however, wasn’t convinced. “Where is your remorse? Where do I see it? said Judge Joanna Seybert. She added that Santos appeared to feel that “it’s always someone else’s fault.”

When requesting Santos get 87 months in prison, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York said the requested sentence reflects the serious nature of Santos’s “unparalleled” crimes.