
Photograph by Andrew Harnik/Getty Pictures
It’s no secret that George Santos has been a strolling punchline in American politics for over a 12 months now. However now, the joke is formally over. The disgraced former congressman from New York has traded in his fits for jail garb, starting a seven-year sentence for fraud and id theft. And wouldn’t you already know it, Marjorie Taylor Greene is in her emotions about it.
On the earth of Greene, Santos is the sufferer right here. Sure, the identical Santos who fabricated the whole lot from his academic background to his employment historical past and even claimed his mom died within the 9/11 assaults — regardless of verifiable proof on the contrary. Greene took to social media to bemoan his punishment, arguing that Santos shouldn’t have been expelled from Congress and positively didn’t deserve seven years in jail. Her reasoning? One thing about Jeffrey Epstein, elite corruption, and the way the justice system is inherently unfair.
Sure, Epstein’s case uncovered obtrusive problems with privilege and energy within the justice system, however that doesn’t magically erase Santos’s crimes. He used stolen identities to make fraudulent marketing campaign contributions, permitting him to inflate his donor numbers and mislead the general public about his help base. He additionally satisfied donors to open their wallets for what they thought was a reputable marketing campaign, solely to funnel that cash into private bills.
He fabricated almost each facet of his life, from claiming Jewish heritage to inventing a profession at prestigious monetary companies. At one level, he even pretended to be a volleyball star. A volleyball star! If this have been a fictional character, critics would name him too unrealistic. His internet of deceit finally unraveled, and he grew to become a nationwide embarrassment for his social gathering. He was expelled from Congress in December 2023, making him solely the sixth member of the Home ever to face such a destiny. The bipartisan vote underscored simply how poisonous Santos had turn into; even his personal colleagues couldn’t stand by him anymore.
As for Greene, her protection of Santos is unlikely to win her any new followers. If something, it underscores simply how out of contact she’s turn into. Whereas most Individuals are relieved to see Santos held accountable, Greene is busy preventing a battle nobody requested her to struggle. However hey, not less than she’s constant. In her world, chaos is all the time the principle character.