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George Santos, the expelled former congressman from New York, made an unexpected return to Capitol Hill on Thursday, donning a Santa Claus suit for a brief yet eyebrow-raising appearance. Santos, who was ousted from Congress following a damning House Ethics report and subsequent guilty plea to fraud charges, attended Representative Tim Burchett’s annual 15-minute Christmas party as the self-proclaimed “Santos-Claus.”
Santos-Claus Steals the Show
Burchett had teased a “celebrity Santa Claus” for the event, and Santos, dressed in a red suit complete with white fur trim, did not disappoint. Hours before the party, Burchett had hinted to House Speaker Mike Johnson about the guest’s identity, quipping, “Santos Claus is making an appearance.”
The former congressman wasted no time reigniting his flair for theatrics. Posting on X, formerly Twitter, Santos wrote: “Santos-Claus is giving Santa-Claus a run for his money… Who said the immigrant class doesn’t outwork the white folks? 👀😂”
Photos from the event, including one reposted by Representative Debbie Dingell, showed Santos mingling with lawmakers and staff, posing for pictures, and seemingly reveling in his unorthodox return. Santos responded to the images, calling Burchett’s party the “best holiday party in town.”
A Return Marred by Legal Troubles
Santos’s jovial appearance stood in stark contrast to the legal and political controversies that led to his expulsion. The former congressman pleaded guilty in August to charges of aggravated identity theft and wire fraud stemming from his 2022 midterm campaign. He agreed to serve a minimum of two years in prison and pay $373,000 in restitution as part of a plea agreement. His sentencing is scheduled for February.
Despite his legal troubles, Santos appeared undeterred. Ahead of his Capitol visit, he shared his itinerary on X, announcing plans to meet with industry leaders, reconnect with former colleagues, and debut his “Santos-Claus” persona at Burchett’s party. In true Santos fashion, he added, “Good morning! For the record, despite being Santa Claus today, I did not wake up in a jolly mood. See you soon DC swamp.😏😘”
Santos also used the festive occasion to remind followers of his Cameo account, where he had previously introduced “Santos-Claus” as a way to spread holiday cheer. “Stay sassy and classy, folks! Let’s go make Christmas great again!” he wrote last year.
Reactions to Santos’s Capitol Comeback
Santos’s reappearance drew mixed reactions from lawmakers and netizens alike. While some viewed his antics as a lighthearted holiday moment, others criticized his audacity given his legal troubles and political disgrace.
On social media, reactions ranged from amusement to outrage:
- @CapitolWatcher: “Santos back as Santa? You can’t make this stuff up. Only in D.C.!”
- @JusticeNow2024: “A convicted fraudster in a Santa suit. What a perfect metaphor for modern politics.”
- @SassyDems: “Santos-Claus is exactly the holiday scandal we didn’t ask for.”
- @GOPInsider: “Say what you will, Santos knows how to make an entrance. #SantosClaus”
- @EthicsFirst: “This is a slap in the face to every American who values integrity in government.”
- @HolidayFanatic: “Not going to lie, Santos-Claus might be the best thing to happen to this party.”
