By Jonathan Stempel
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal judge on Wednesday delayed George Santos' sentencing on fraud and identity theft charges, after the disgraced former U.S. congressman requested time to continue his "Pants on Fire" podcast to help pay off more than a half million dollars he owes.
U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert in Central Islip, New York, rescheduled Santos' sentencing to April 25 from Feb. 7, calling it a "one-time courtesy" to serve the ends of justice.
Santos' lawyers had sought a six-month delay, calling it a routine and "hardly extraordinary" request that would boost victims' recoveries and allow more preparation for sentencing.
Prosecutors ridiculed the request, saying Santos wanted the extra time to promote himself, and that "allowing Santos to stave off sentencing specifically to monetize his infamy would send a message to the public that crime pays."
Neither Santos' lawyers nor the office of U.S. Attorney Breon Peace in Brooklyn, which brought the case, immediately responded to requests for comment.
Santos, 36, faces up to 22 years in prison after pleading guilty last August to wire fraud and identity theft, and agreed not to appeal any sentence of around eight years or fewer.
His plea agreement also calls for the payment of $578,753 in restitution and forfeiture, which his lawyers said the podcast would help fund. The identity theft charge carries a mandatory two-year prison term.
Elected in 2022 to serve parts of Long Island and the New York City borough of Queens, Santos saw his political career implode quickly amid questions about his fundraising and reports he had made up parts of his biography.
The Republican was charged in May 2023 with fabricating fundraising figures, and expelled from Congress seven months later.