George Santos's troubles began to surface on Long Island about two and a half years ago.
Initially, he appeared to be a refreshing addition to the Republican Party, campaigning for Congress as a successful professional with Wall Street experience and poignant personal ties to national tragedies.
He portrayed himself as a devoted supporter of Donald J. Trump and stood out among Long Island Republicans as a young, openly gay son of Brazilian immigrants. However, much of his background was exposed as fabricated before he even took office.
In the ensuing years, Santos often seemed to embrace his notoriety—initially denying all allegations before eventually pleading guilty to multiple crimes the previous year.
During this period, he became only the sixth member in the history of the U.S. House of Representatives to be expelled.
On Friday, Santos was handed a prison sentence exceeding seven years. Below is a detailed look at the trajectory of his rise and subsequent fall.
