Former U.S. Rep. George Santos, the first openly gay Republican elected to Congress, appeared in federal court in New York on Tuesday ahead of his fraud trial, which is scheduled to begin on September 9. Santos, confronted with numerous accusations such as identity theft and wire fraud, participated in a pretrial hearing to make crucial decisions regarding the trial’s proceedings.
U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert, who presided over the case, determined that the jury for Santos’ trial will remain anonymous. The high-profile nature of the case prompted the decision to protect jurors from potential harassment. This decision comes after Santos’ legal team requested that prospective jurors complete a written questionnaire to measure their feelings toward him, which the judge eventually dismissed.
According to The Associated Press, Santos’ lawyers said that the inquiry was necessary due to the overwhelming unfavorable media coverage of their client after his political career began to collapse. Santos’ lawyers claimed that media coverage of the case would taint the jury, but prosecutors said that Santos liked the attention and contributed to it. Seybert agreed with federal prosecutors, who argued in a letter to the judge on Friday that such a move would delay the trial and be unnecessary. The judge emphasized that in-person questioning of potential jurors would allow for a more detailed and diverse inquiry, ensuring a fair selection process or voir dire.
Plea negotiations between Santos and federal prosecutors, which had been going on since late last year, appear to have halted with no accord. Court filings exposed the conversations in December, revealing that both parties were negotiating a potential plea deal. Santos has maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty to all accusations, and the court proceedings on Tuesday showed no indication of a settlement.
During the brief session, the judge also went over the details of the planned three-week trial. Prosecutors said they expect to call at least three dozen witnesses, including persons directly harmed by Santos’ alleged crimes, according to the Associated Press. Seybert asked both sides to shorten the proceedings to minimize repetitive testimony, emphasizing the necessity of a smooth trial.
Santos declined to talk to reporters as he left the courthouse. According to the AP, Santos’ lawyer, Robert Fantone, voiced cautious hope, stating, “I think we’re going to be alright,” when asked if he would receive a fair trial.
