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By Katherine Fung
Senior Writer
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Expelled Congressman George Santos reappeared on Capitol Hill Thursday dressed in a Santa suit.
Santos, ousted from Congress a year ago after a damning House Ethics report found that he engaged in fraud, was spotted at U.S. Representative Tim Burchett's annual 15-minute Christmas party. Santos served as a congressman for 11 months before his expulsion.
Burchett had hinted there would be a "celebrity Santa Claus" at this year's event, and hours before the party, told House Speaker Mike Johnson that "Santos Claus" was making an appearance.
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Santos wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday afternoon: "Santos-Claus is giving Santa-claus the run for his money... Who said the immigrant class doesn't outwork the white folks? 👀😂"
The New York Republican also reposted a photo of the party from his former colleague, Representative Debbie Dingell, with the caption: "Great time...@timburchett has the best holiday party in town!"
Before his arrival at the Capitol on Thursday, Santos had posted on X, "Good morning! For the record despite being Santa Claus today, I did not wake up in a jolly mood. See you soon DC swamp.😏😘" The day before, he said he had plans to meet with industry leaders on the Hill, visit his former colleagues and sitting senators, make a "cameo as Santos-claus at @timburchett Christmas party," and have dinner and drinks in D.C.
Santos pleaded guilty in August to aggravated identity theft and wire fraud charges related to his 2022 midterm campaign. The plea came weeks before he was set to stand trial on nearly two dozen federal charges, including campaign finance violations. Santos will serve a minimum of two years in prison as part of the agreement and pay $373,000 in restitution. A sentencing hearing has been set for February.
Newsweek reached out to Santos via email for comment.
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Santos is the only member of the House to have been expelled without having previously been convicted of a crime or having fought for the Confederacy. He is also the first Republican to have been expelled from Congress.
Asked about his expulsion on Thursday, Santos told The Hill, "I have PTSD from this place."
Johnson left shortly before Santos arrived.
Santos first debuted his "Santos-Claus" alter ego on Cameo, which he joined shortly after leaving Congress. He told his followers he would be selling videos "to bring Christmas cheer to all your faces!"
"Well guess what time of year it is y'all? It's time for... Santos-Claus!" he wrote on X last year. "For a very limited time I'll be doing Cameo's to bring Christmas cheer to all your faces!"
"Stay sassy and classy folks! Let's go make Christmas great again!" he added.
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