George Santos in ‘productive’ plea deal talks with the feds, wants to go back to Congress

George Santos’ lawyers are having “productive” conversations with the feds over a possible plea deal in his fraud case, they told a judge Tuesday — as the ousted lyin’ Long Island lawmaker said he wants to return to Congress.

The New York Republican was in Central Islip federal court for a hearing in his embezzlement and identity fraud case, sporting his usual suit and sweater uniform paired with black $1,000 Salvatore Ferragamo sneakers, which he told reporters he was wearing “because I hurt my foot.”

But before the court appearance, Santos, 35, told WABC radio’s Frank Morano: “I’m not done with public service. I want to go back to Congress.”

“I’m not saying today. I’m not saying tomorrow,” Santos said on radio show “The Other Side of Midnight” early Tuesday. “I have a lot of things I need to take care of first. I think we all know, but I do have hopes of trying to regain the trust of the American people and going there because I will continue to expose and root out the rot in our federal government.”

In court, Santos’ lawyer Joseph Murray told Judge Joanna Seybert that the Sept. 9, 2024 trial date shouldn’t be moved up, like the feds are pushing for, because the defense team has been struggling to go through the over 1.3 million pages of evidence turned over by prosecutors.

“We’ve been struggling to go through all that material,” Murray said. “There are still a million more documents that we have to go through.”

“We’re having productive conversations,” the lawyer said. “I think this could be fruitful if we focus on that.”  

But prosecutor Jacob Steiner said he wanted to advance trial to as early as June.

Seybert noted that things could move more quickly for Santos’ team since “We don’t have the issue of the defendant having to go to Washington [DC] on a regular basis.”

Still, the judge said her calendar was backed up — largely due to the residual effect of the pandemic era courts slow-down — and wouldn’t be able to offer a trial earlier than September anyway.

She warned that Santos’ lawyers need to “get on board” and stay on top of the discovery in the case since “the government is entitled to a speedy trial, also.”

Santos didn’t answer reporters’ questions as he waiting for an elevator after the hearing, instead merely saying: “I wish you guys would take a break from saying my name.” 

On the radio show Santos, who was expelled from the House of Representatives earlier this month, said Democratic New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez shouldn’t be kicked out of office until after he faces a corruption trial.

“The reality is, Senator Menendez is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty,” Santos told Morano. “He is accused. And don’t forget, Senator Menendez is a perfect example of somebody who has beat the [Department of Justice] on a hung jury in the past.”

Santos pleaded not guilty to a 23-count indictment for which he faces more than 22 years in prison if convicted.

Since Santos’ expulsion, he’s reportedly been making money on video-sharing app Cameo, where everyday people can pay celebs to film messages like well-wishes and pep talks.

Santos is due back in court on Jan. 23.