1 00:00:15,356 --> 00:00:15,836 Speaker 1: Pushkin. 2 00:00:22,676 --> 00:00:26,916 Speaker 2: New legal developments involving austed Republican Congressman George Santos. 3 00:00:27,076 --> 00:00:29,636 Speaker 3: Sources say there's a possible plea deal in the corruption 4 00:00:29,716 --> 00:00:31,636 Speaker 3: case that drove him from office. 5 00:00:31,716 --> 00:00:35,636 Speaker 4: His trial was said to begin September ninth. Why plead 6 00:00:35,636 --> 00:00:36,636 Speaker 4: guilty now? 7 00:00:38,636 --> 00:00:42,196 Speaker 2: So the rumors are true. On Monday, August nineteenth, George 8 00:00:42,196 --> 00:00:46,356 Speaker 2: Santos pled guilty in federal court. When I heard the news, 9 00:00:46,796 --> 00:00:49,196 Speaker 2: I made my way to New York and I was 10 00:00:49,236 --> 00:00:53,156 Speaker 2: there in the courtroom just a few rows behind George 11 00:00:53,196 --> 00:00:58,076 Speaker 2: Santos for all of it. I called Jake right after 12 00:00:58,116 --> 00:01:01,356 Speaker 2: the hearing as I was driving away from the courthouse. 13 00:01:06,636 --> 00:01:11,796 Speaker 4: Amy, Hello, heyne I can hear you. 14 00:01:11,836 --> 00:01:14,796 Speaker 5: I'm walking the dog in the park, but I have 15 00:01:14,876 --> 00:01:17,516 Speaker 5: so many questions for you as soon as my dog Milo. 16 00:01:20,036 --> 00:01:20,756 Speaker 5: Are you home now? 17 00:01:21,596 --> 00:01:22,676 Speaker 4: No, I'm dropping that. 18 00:01:22,956 --> 00:01:29,956 Speaker 5: Oh my gosh. Wow. Okay, what a day. Yeah, So 19 00:01:30,116 --> 00:01:30,716 Speaker 5: walk me through. 20 00:01:31,516 --> 00:01:37,196 Speaker 4: So as expected, Santa Flood guilty specifically to two counts, 21 00:01:37,356 --> 00:01:40,956 Speaker 4: Count two and count six. I think one of those 22 00:01:41,076 --> 00:01:44,956 Speaker 4: is wirefraud and one of those is aggravated identity theft. 23 00:01:45,076 --> 00:01:47,596 Speaker 4: But if I'm just said correctly, he basically admitted that 24 00:01:48,716 --> 00:01:51,596 Speaker 4: he did everything in the indictment, So like he pled 25 00:01:51,596 --> 00:01:54,356 Speaker 4: to these two charges, but he did own up to 26 00:01:55,436 --> 00:01:57,916 Speaker 4: all of the allegations against him by the federal government 27 00:01:57,916 --> 00:01:59,436 Speaker 4: as part of this plea agreement. 28 00:02:01,276 --> 00:02:03,476 Speaker 5: Huh. How many counts were their total? 29 00:02:04,276 --> 00:02:04,996 Speaker 4: Twenty three? 30 00:02:06,476 --> 00:02:10,156 Speaker 5: Wow? Does that mean that he and he like fared 31 00:02:10,196 --> 00:02:10,676 Speaker 5: well on this? 32 00:02:10,796 --> 00:02:15,716 Speaker 6: I mean, well, no, what didn't happen today was sentencings, 33 00:02:15,956 --> 00:02:22,116 Speaker 6: so that was tentatively scheduled for February, so we won't know, 34 00:02:22,276 --> 00:02:26,396 Speaker 6: but the range that he's looking at is minimum of two. 35 00:02:26,236 --> 00:02:30,076 Speaker 4: Years in prison and a maximum of twenty two years. 36 00:02:30,556 --> 00:02:32,636 Speaker 5: Talk me through like showing up at the courthouse and 37 00:02:32,676 --> 00:02:33,596 Speaker 5: what the scene was like. 38 00:02:34,356 --> 00:02:38,276 Speaker 4: Yeah, so I got to the courthouse in Central icelip 39 00:02:38,316 --> 00:02:41,396 Speaker 4: on the lawn and it was a zoo tent after 40 00:02:41,476 --> 00:02:44,916 Speaker 4: tent after tent of media set up. People had been 41 00:02:44,956 --> 00:02:48,436 Speaker 4: camped out there probably all day, just trying to get 42 00:02:49,116 --> 00:02:51,236 Speaker 4: shots to stand just walking in and out of the court. 43 00:02:51,596 --> 00:02:52,516 Speaker 4: It's pretty crazy. 44 00:02:53,076 --> 00:02:56,116 Speaker 5: But there's an image that I'm looking at now. I'm like, 45 00:02:56,156 --> 00:02:59,196 Speaker 5: if you just scream of George Santas, I was trying 46 00:02:59,196 --> 00:03:02,156 Speaker 5: to like see what you might have seen. He's dressed 47 00:03:02,196 --> 00:03:06,036 Speaker 5: in this like men in black black suit with these 48 00:03:06,076 --> 00:03:10,516 Speaker 5: like gold frame sunglasses. But he's got like a Star 49 00:03:10,636 --> 00:03:14,516 Speaker 5: of David on his lapel. It's a little hard to see, 50 00:03:14,516 --> 00:03:17,236 Speaker 5: but it's clearly a Star David. And I'm like, this 51 00:03:17,396 --> 00:03:21,596 Speaker 5: is unbelievable. Like, dude is walking into the courthouse in 52 00:03:21,756 --> 00:03:25,716 Speaker 5: his moment of reckoning and he's still got he's still 53 00:03:25,836 --> 00:03:28,716 Speaker 5: rocking the Star of David, like he is holding on 54 00:03:28,756 --> 00:03:31,756 Speaker 5: to that claim of Jewish heritage. Yeah. 55 00:03:31,796 --> 00:03:34,796 Speaker 4: Wow, I couldn't see that from where I was. So 56 00:03:34,956 --> 00:03:38,996 Speaker 4: I was sitting in the courthouse three rows behind him. 57 00:03:39,636 --> 00:03:43,356 Speaker 4: It's a huge building, like it's a it's a massive 58 00:03:43,636 --> 00:03:48,036 Speaker 4: federal facility, but the courtroom itself was actually quite small. 59 00:03:48,116 --> 00:03:51,316 Speaker 4: It was just four rows of pews on each side, 60 00:03:51,916 --> 00:03:55,516 Speaker 4: and two of those roads were basically filled up by 61 00:03:55,756 --> 00:03:58,796 Speaker 4: lawyers for the prosecution. Of course, there's no jury, right 62 00:03:58,876 --> 00:04:02,476 Speaker 4: because this is you know, and now this ultimately needs 63 00:04:02,516 --> 00:04:03,996 Speaker 4: is this isn't going to go to trial. 64 00:04:04,876 --> 00:04:09,396 Speaker 5: Okay, But so when you're so when you're in the courtroom, 65 00:04:09,796 --> 00:04:11,876 Speaker 5: are you there before he shows up or was he 66 00:04:11,916 --> 00:04:13,116 Speaker 5: already there when you walked in? 67 00:04:13,716 --> 00:04:18,396 Speaker 4: Yeah, so when I'm in the courtroom, he is not 68 00:04:18,636 --> 00:04:21,036 Speaker 4: there yet, and then he's just kind of sitting there 69 00:04:21,036 --> 00:04:24,196 Speaker 4: and it's very much like a library church, kind of 70 00:04:24,236 --> 00:04:29,316 Speaker 4: like atmosphere, Like everyone's like whispering and looking around. And 71 00:04:29,356 --> 00:04:34,676 Speaker 4: then the prosecutors entered, and actually there's some family members 72 00:04:34,676 --> 00:04:36,876 Speaker 4: of the lead prosecutor were seated behind me, so I 73 00:04:37,316 --> 00:04:38,836 Speaker 4: talk to them a little bit. I mean, just like 74 00:04:39,556 --> 00:04:42,596 Speaker 4: you don't no one has cell phones, no one has computers. 75 00:04:42,636 --> 00:04:44,196 Speaker 4: I don't think that you would even even let you 76 00:04:44,236 --> 00:04:46,676 Speaker 4: bring an Apple Watch in, And so everybody is kind 77 00:04:46,676 --> 00:04:49,476 Speaker 4: of forced to talk to each other. And so for 78 00:04:49,516 --> 00:04:52,076 Speaker 4: a while, people just kind of sat there milling about. 79 00:04:52,356 --> 00:04:53,676 Speaker 5: I want you to tell them at the moment that 80 00:04:53,716 --> 00:04:56,356 Speaker 5: he walks into the courtroom, Yeah. 81 00:04:56,036 --> 00:04:58,716 Speaker 4: So everyone is, like I said, kind of so everyone 82 00:04:58,796 --> 00:05:03,236 Speaker 4: is kind of feeded quietly, anxiously wondering what's gonna happen, 83 00:05:04,196 --> 00:05:06,276 Speaker 4: when things are going to actually get going, if this 84 00:05:06,436 --> 00:05:10,316 Speaker 4: is actually going to happen today, we're expected thing. And 85 00:05:10,356 --> 00:05:12,756 Speaker 4: then I heard from one of the reporters sitting next 86 00:05:12,796 --> 00:05:14,996 Speaker 4: to me. He had actually gone out to try and 87 00:05:15,116 --> 00:05:18,196 Speaker 4: go to the bathroom before things would start, and he 88 00:05:18,236 --> 00:05:21,196 Speaker 4: came back and told me he's here, Like he came 89 00:05:21,236 --> 00:05:23,836 Speaker 4: face to face with Santos on his way to the bathroom. 90 00:05:23,956 --> 00:05:26,916 Speaker 4: And I was just like, WHOA, Okay, this is really happening. 91 00:05:26,996 --> 00:05:29,796 Speaker 4: You know, half of the morning I thought maybe he 92 00:05:29,836 --> 00:05:32,116 Speaker 4: wouldn't show up, but then it was, it was real. 93 00:05:32,196 --> 00:05:37,956 Speaker 4: He was there, and so, you know, unceremoniously the doors 94 00:05:38,076 --> 00:05:41,356 Speaker 4: open and Santos comes through with his legal teams in 95 00:05:41,396 --> 00:05:46,356 Speaker 4: his black and gray suit. He didn't looked like overly 96 00:05:46,436 --> 00:05:49,916 Speaker 4: distressed or anything, but there was like a tenseness to 97 00:05:49,996 --> 00:05:51,996 Speaker 4: his body. But the moment that he walked in, I 98 00:05:52,076 --> 00:05:57,036 Speaker 4: was sort of just reachless because there's so much anticipation, 99 00:05:57,156 --> 00:05:59,796 Speaker 4: in so much build up to this moment, and then 100 00:05:59,956 --> 00:06:00,516 Speaker 4: there he was. 101 00:06:01,596 --> 00:06:03,356 Speaker 5: When he and when he walked down the aisle, did 102 00:06:03,396 --> 00:06:05,076 Speaker 5: you get a glimpse of his face? Did he look 103 00:06:05,196 --> 00:06:06,956 Speaker 5: like solemn or did he look like. 104 00:06:09,236 --> 00:06:09,556 Speaker 7: Easy? 105 00:06:10,476 --> 00:06:13,396 Speaker 4: You could feel, at least what I've said, so you 106 00:06:13,396 --> 00:06:16,916 Speaker 4: could feel kind of all the anxiety and feeling and 107 00:06:16,996 --> 00:06:20,236 Speaker 4: anticipation that was like locked into his body as he 108 00:06:20,356 --> 00:06:21,516 Speaker 4: waited for this to start. 109 00:06:22,636 --> 00:06:24,876 Speaker 5: Is it one of these things where the judge was 110 00:06:24,916 --> 00:06:28,396 Speaker 5: reading out the charges and asking him how do you plead? 111 00:06:29,316 --> 00:06:32,236 Speaker 4: It started very matter of factly with the judge saying, 112 00:06:32,676 --> 00:06:36,156 Speaker 4: you understand that you are going to be waiving your 113 00:06:36,276 --> 00:06:39,356 Speaker 4: right to a trial. If you do enter into this 114 00:06:39,436 --> 00:06:41,956 Speaker 4: guilty police today and then she started kind of recapping 115 00:06:42,076 --> 00:06:45,836 Speaker 4: what that guilty pleae would before. But then it was 116 00:06:45,916 --> 00:06:48,676 Speaker 4: kind of astounding just to hear the judge. He kind 117 00:06:48,676 --> 00:06:50,276 Speaker 4: of gave like this long list of like, Okay, you 118 00:06:50,316 --> 00:06:52,956 Speaker 4: can't have a trial. You're giving up that right, you're 119 00:06:52,996 --> 00:06:55,636 Speaker 4: giving up the rightticipenated witnesses, you're giving up your right 120 00:06:55,716 --> 00:06:57,716 Speaker 4: to testify in your own defense. That he had to 121 00:06:58,556 --> 00:07:00,476 Speaker 4: you know, she was like, do you understand that, and 122 00:07:00,516 --> 00:07:04,716 Speaker 4: Santas said yes. There was a somber of quality to 123 00:07:04,796 --> 00:07:07,636 Speaker 4: his voice in those interactions back and forth with the judge, 124 00:07:07,676 --> 00:07:13,796 Speaker 4: but he was keeping it together in the courtroom. Yeah, 125 00:07:13,836 --> 00:07:17,436 Speaker 4: there was a moment where in the beginning of the 126 00:07:17,436 --> 00:07:21,356 Speaker 4: proceedings where the judge swore him in and asked him 127 00:07:21,356 --> 00:07:24,396 Speaker 4: to raise his right hand and you know, trow to 128 00:07:24,396 --> 00:07:28,156 Speaker 4: tell the truth. And that just felt like a moment 129 00:07:28,796 --> 00:07:31,036 Speaker 4: to have toward Stantos worn to tell the truth. 130 00:07:31,796 --> 00:07:34,716 Speaker 5: Yeah, that is that's crazy. Yeah, I mean it's almost 131 00:07:34,756 --> 00:07:37,836 Speaker 5: like can the judge keep a straight face? I mean, 132 00:07:40,276 --> 00:07:41,276 Speaker 5: did he make a statement? 133 00:07:42,836 --> 00:07:45,436 Speaker 4: He did make a statement. He made a statement in court, 134 00:07:45,796 --> 00:07:48,996 Speaker 4: and then he made a statement outside the courthouse. I mean, 135 00:07:48,996 --> 00:07:51,796 Speaker 4: I just was writing so ferociously. But basically he says 136 00:07:51,876 --> 00:07:55,916 Speaker 4: he started off by saying, I participated in the scheme 137 00:07:56,596 --> 00:08:02,996 Speaker 4: with Nancy Mark. Everything that we talked about, everything that 138 00:08:03,196 --> 00:08:07,196 Speaker 4: you know we talked through with Sturrob is basically what 139 00:08:07,316 --> 00:08:11,476 Speaker 4: he talked to And then he said, you know, I 140 00:08:11,556 --> 00:08:17,196 Speaker 4: deeply regret this. I accept full responsibility. I'm committed to 141 00:08:17,316 --> 00:08:20,516 Speaker 4: making amends. And then he pleaded guilty on both counts. 142 00:08:21,556 --> 00:08:25,196 Speaker 5: When he says that, like, is he's saying that just 143 00:08:25,316 --> 00:08:28,516 Speaker 5: very kind of like wooden and composed, or is there 144 00:08:28,516 --> 00:08:31,396 Speaker 5: emotion there when he's kind of making this apology. 145 00:08:32,276 --> 00:08:35,396 Speaker 4: It's interesting. So when he started to make a statement, 146 00:08:35,516 --> 00:08:38,356 Speaker 4: he asked the judge if he should stand up, and 147 00:08:38,436 --> 00:08:41,156 Speaker 4: I had to think in that moment he was extending 148 00:08:41,236 --> 00:08:45,476 Speaker 4: more dramatics, like more theater out of it as the 149 00:08:45,556 --> 00:08:47,996 Speaker 4: judge told him he could stay seated, like you're not 150 00:08:48,076 --> 00:08:49,916 Speaker 4: getting some big you know swans. 151 00:08:51,796 --> 00:08:53,716 Speaker 5: No, I totally buy that. And that's like, as such 152 00:08:53,756 --> 00:08:54,756 Speaker 5: an astute observation. 153 00:08:55,836 --> 00:08:58,636 Speaker 4: You know, it did feel real, as real as anyone 154 00:08:58,676 --> 00:09:01,996 Speaker 4: can be reading a prepared statement in the sudden courtroom. 155 00:09:02,076 --> 00:09:04,876 Speaker 5: You know, yeah, I'd love to know, you know, we 156 00:09:04,916 --> 00:09:07,596 Speaker 5: talked to a prosecutor on the line. What it means 157 00:09:07,596 --> 00:09:09,036 Speaker 5: that he only pled guilty to two. 158 00:09:08,956 --> 00:09:12,036 Speaker 4: Of them account Yeah, I get the sense that that 159 00:09:12,236 --> 00:09:17,196 Speaker 4: was the proper that the government offered to avoid what 160 00:09:17,316 --> 00:09:20,316 Speaker 4: I have to assume would have been a lengthy and 161 00:09:20,516 --> 00:09:25,876 Speaker 4: expensive trial. If you're thinking about the dozens of layers 162 00:09:25,956 --> 00:09:30,156 Speaker 4: that filled the courtroom today. An assistant US Attorney Ryan Harris, 163 00:09:30,196 --> 00:09:34,756 Speaker 4: who was the main spokesperson for the prosecution today, he 164 00:09:34,876 --> 00:09:38,756 Speaker 4: listed out we were prepared to bring forty witnesses, which 165 00:09:38,796 --> 00:09:47,716 Speaker 4: includes victims, folks, owners, campaign staffers, family co conspirators. I'm 166 00:09:47,756 --> 00:09:51,476 Speaker 4: imagining that would have been Nancy Mark and five hundred 167 00:09:51,556 --> 00:09:58,076 Speaker 4: exhibits including text, photos, emails, audio, video, financial records. You know, 168 00:09:58,196 --> 00:10:02,876 Speaker 4: this would have been an exhaustive and thorough trial. This 169 00:10:02,996 --> 00:10:05,516 Speaker 4: is something I'd been thinking about a lot because as 170 00:10:05,556 --> 00:10:09,316 Speaker 4: the prosecution, how do you tell the story of all 171 00:10:09,356 --> 00:10:13,156 Speaker 4: of these different schemes, Because they're there, each their own story, right, 172 00:10:14,396 --> 00:10:16,196 Speaker 4: It was going to be a real challenge for them, 173 00:10:16,236 --> 00:10:18,836 Speaker 4: and I think also a challenge for a jury to 174 00:10:18,956 --> 00:10:21,436 Speaker 4: keep track of all of these things, and so I 175 00:10:21,476 --> 00:10:24,036 Speaker 4: think people were subjecting it was going to take probably 176 00:10:24,076 --> 00:10:26,676 Speaker 4: over a month to get through all of that, and 177 00:10:26,796 --> 00:10:30,116 Speaker 4: we're losing that detail. So I think that the case 178 00:10:30,156 --> 00:10:36,996 Speaker 4: that the prosecution has built we will never hear. And 179 00:10:37,036 --> 00:10:39,036 Speaker 4: there's something really satisfying about that. 180 00:10:39,156 --> 00:10:40,756 Speaker 5: If you've been following something I have. 181 00:10:41,676 --> 00:10:43,676 Speaker 4: You know, I had been gearing up for this trial, 182 00:10:44,756 --> 00:10:49,076 Speaker 4: and the reporter in me wanted to see this through, 183 00:10:49,156 --> 00:10:51,556 Speaker 4: wanted this through at a trial, wanted every one of 184 00:10:51,596 --> 00:10:54,676 Speaker 4: my questions about what happened with this thou hundred thousand 185 00:10:54,756 --> 00:10:58,276 Speaker 4: dollars loan, right like I had those questions that I 186 00:10:58,316 --> 00:10:59,916 Speaker 4: wanted to see that aired out in court. 187 00:10:59,956 --> 00:11:00,516 Speaker 5: It really did. 188 00:11:02,036 --> 00:11:04,996 Speaker 4: But then hearing today the amount of evidence that the 189 00:11:04,996 --> 00:11:08,396 Speaker 4: prosecution had and the lack of defense that Santa seemed 190 00:11:08,436 --> 00:11:10,796 Speaker 4: to have, you know, it just kind of made this 191 00:11:10,836 --> 00:11:13,196 Speaker 4: feel like the foregone conclusion that whether we sat through 192 00:11:13,236 --> 00:11:15,356 Speaker 4: a lengthy trial or not, the result was basically going 193 00:11:15,356 --> 00:11:17,556 Speaker 4: to still be the same, is that Santras is going 194 00:11:17,596 --> 00:11:20,836 Speaker 4: to be found guilty on at least some of this always. 195 00:11:21,316 --> 00:11:23,196 Speaker 4: But I would say the most dramatic part of the 196 00:11:23,356 --> 00:11:29,396 Speaker 4: entire thing was around the issue of restitutions. Basically, everything 197 00:11:29,476 --> 00:11:32,556 Speaker 4: was coming to an end. It had run about an hour. 198 00:11:32,956 --> 00:11:36,316 Speaker 4: It was very calm. In fact, the judge was thanking 199 00:11:36,356 --> 00:11:40,156 Speaker 4: everyone for being so calm, and then there was this 200 00:11:40,276 --> 00:11:43,316 Speaker 4: back and forth between Santas's lawyers and the judge and 201 00:11:43,356 --> 00:11:48,236 Speaker 4: the prosecutors over this issue of restitution and forfeiture. I 202 00:11:48,276 --> 00:11:50,876 Speaker 4: guess like if Santas going to be able to pay 203 00:11:51,076 --> 00:11:53,996 Speaker 4: this money, And so Joe Murray, who's the attorney that 204 00:11:53,996 --> 00:11:57,916 Speaker 4: we've been reaching out to, at one point like stood 205 00:11:58,036 --> 00:12:02,276 Speaker 4: up even as the proceedings were ending and was just saying, 206 00:12:02,276 --> 00:12:04,756 Speaker 4: you know, Santis is going to make best efforts. He 207 00:12:04,836 --> 00:12:07,436 Speaker 4: kept saying, guest efforts. He's going to do his best 208 00:12:07,876 --> 00:12:10,916 Speaker 4: to try and pay this to pay thirty days before sentencing, 209 00:12:10,956 --> 00:12:13,356 Speaker 4: so what sentencing is actually going to be in February. 210 00:12:13,596 --> 00:12:15,876 Speaker 4: That means he has to come up with hundreds of 211 00:12:15,876 --> 00:12:19,836 Speaker 4: thousands of dollars between now and February. And Joseph Murray, 212 00:12:19,876 --> 00:12:22,916 Speaker 4: his attorney, was taking this point of like, well, we 213 00:12:23,036 --> 00:12:27,836 Speaker 4: don't know how these proceedings will impact his employabilities. 214 00:12:28,636 --> 00:12:35,436 Speaker 8: Which I thought was so interesting and comical. Most previous 215 00:12:35,476 --> 00:12:38,316 Speaker 8: job that I'm aware of was elected official, and I 216 00:12:38,316 --> 00:12:40,796 Speaker 8: don't think he has great credibility on that front. 217 00:12:40,876 --> 00:12:43,636 Speaker 4: I mean, he did earlier this year amount a campaign 218 00:12:43,716 --> 00:12:47,356 Speaker 4: to run for a different Congressional district in New York, 219 00:12:47,876 --> 00:12:50,676 Speaker 4: also on Long Island, but further east, and then he 220 00:12:50,796 --> 00:12:54,756 Speaker 4: suspended that in light of this criminal trial. I assume, so, yeah, 221 00:12:54,756 --> 00:12:57,836 Speaker 4: it is a question of a where he's going to 222 00:12:57,876 --> 00:13:00,316 Speaker 4: get the money to pay back the government and the 223 00:13:00,396 --> 00:13:05,196 Speaker 4: victims and be what his next job is going to be. 224 00:13:05,996 --> 00:13:09,036 Speaker 5: My friend is like a reality TV producer who got 225 00:13:10,116 --> 00:13:13,036 Speaker 5: He got Michael Cohane on his show. I could see 226 00:13:13,036 --> 00:13:16,636 Speaker 5: Santa's doing something like that, or a lot. 227 00:13:16,476 --> 00:13:20,556 Speaker 4: Of cameos, a lot of cameos, like like two hundred 228 00:13:20,596 --> 00:13:27,356 Speaker 4: thousand dollars worth of cameos. Yes, After the hearings included 229 00:13:28,196 --> 00:13:32,636 Speaker 4: Santos gave a very tearful statement outside with his gold 230 00:13:32,676 --> 00:13:36,516 Speaker 4: framed sunglasses, just kind of like choking back tears and 231 00:13:37,596 --> 00:13:40,556 Speaker 4: admitting that he's lied, and there was a huge media 232 00:13:40,636 --> 00:13:49,076 Speaker 4: scrum around him. 233 00:13:49,156 --> 00:13:52,596 Speaker 3: Leading guilty as a step I never imagine I take, 234 00:13:53,836 --> 00:13:56,196 Speaker 3: but it is a necessary one because it is the 235 00:13:56,276 --> 00:13:58,916 Speaker 3: right thing to do. It's not only a recognition of 236 00:13:58,996 --> 00:14:03,916 Speaker 3: my mister red person has to other uys, but more profoundly, 237 00:14:03,996 --> 00:14:06,556 Speaker 3: it is my own recognition of the lies I told 238 00:14:06,556 --> 00:14:11,796 Speaker 3: myself over these past years. 239 00:14:08,196 --> 00:14:17,276 Speaker 4: And then the Brieance piece who's the United States Attorney 240 00:14:17,356 --> 00:14:20,396 Speaker 4: for the Eastern District spoke. You know, they had someone 241 00:14:20,556 --> 00:14:23,116 Speaker 4: from the Justice Department's Criminal Division right to get like 242 00:14:23,196 --> 00:14:25,636 Speaker 4: all the suits, all the big wigs up to give 243 00:14:25,676 --> 00:14:28,996 Speaker 4: their statement about how this can't happen here, and we 244 00:14:29,116 --> 00:14:33,156 Speaker 4: proved that today. You know, it's all political speak and 245 00:14:33,236 --> 00:14:36,756 Speaker 4: it's all about rooting out corruption and accountability. And I 246 00:14:36,756 --> 00:14:40,236 Speaker 4: guess that's what happened today because you know, Santo seemingly 247 00:14:40,356 --> 00:14:42,996 Speaker 4: was afraid of the prosecution and decided to take this plea. 248 00:14:43,156 --> 00:14:45,756 Speaker 4: But it does see a little hollow that we won't 249 00:14:45,796 --> 00:14:49,596 Speaker 4: see all the fiften pieces aired out at a trial 250 00:14:50,316 --> 00:14:53,836 Speaker 4: that maybe would have felt like more honest accountability for this. 251 00:14:54,836 --> 00:14:58,196 Speaker 5: There's something about seeing that image of him walking and 252 00:14:58,236 --> 00:15:00,716 Speaker 5: like the men in black soup that go from glasses 253 00:15:00,796 --> 00:15:03,836 Speaker 5: and again like the star of data on his lapel, 254 00:15:04,116 --> 00:15:10,076 Speaker 5: just like the whole bit. We're just like, we are. 255 00:15:09,996 --> 00:15:12,076 Speaker 9: Not seen the last of this guy. 256 00:15:12,316 --> 00:15:18,996 Speaker 5: He is someone who knows how to command the spotlight 257 00:15:19,276 --> 00:15:22,756 Speaker 5: and he will be back. 258 00:15:22,916 --> 00:15:44,156 Speaker 9: It seems clear to me in some capacity. 259 00:15:36,516 --> 00:15:39,436 Speaker 1: In light of this plea deal, there's so much that 260 00:15:39,476 --> 00:15:42,916 Speaker 1: will never know. We won't hear from the witnesses. People 261 00:15:42,996 --> 00:15:46,756 Speaker 1: who saw Santos operate and were drawn into his web. 262 00:15:47,956 --> 00:15:51,636 Speaker 1: But here's a thing you actually can hear from one 263 00:15:51,676 --> 00:15:56,076 Speaker 1: of them, someone who George Santos befriended and then betrayed. 264 00:15:56,716 --> 00:16:00,596 Speaker 1: She was a gatekeeper to Gatsby Country, an ambassador of 265 00:16:00,636 --> 00:16:06,076 Speaker 1: the very rich, someone who believed in Santos and empowered him, 266 00:16:06,116 --> 00:16:09,676 Speaker 1: and she has a lot to say next time on 267 00:16:09,796 --> 00:16:10,276 Speaker 1: Deep Cover. 268 00:16:11,276 --> 00:16:15,636 Speaker 7: So I expended a lot of my own personal political capital, 269 00:16:16,476 --> 00:16:22,756 Speaker 7: meaning my friends and connections who participate in conservative politics, 270 00:16:22,796 --> 00:16:26,476 Speaker 7: and they supported George for the same reason that I did. 271 00:16:28,396 --> 00:16:31,876 Speaker 1: This episode was reported and produced by Amy Gains McQuaid. 272 00:16:32,356 --> 00:16:35,876 Speaker 1: It was edited by Karen Chakerjee. It was mastered by 273 00:16:35,916 --> 00:16:41,716 Speaker 1: Sarah Bruguerer. Our executive producer is Jacob Smith. Additional audio 274 00:16:41,756 --> 00:16:45,916 Speaker 1: in this episode is from CBS ABC and Newsday Special 275 00:16:45,956 --> 00:16:49,916 Speaker 1: Thanks to Jake Flanagan, Sarah Nix, and Greta Cone. I'm 276 00:16:50,036 --> 00:16:50,716 Speaker 1: Jake Calburn.