George Santos is facing some hard questions about his past fraud conviction on "Special Forces: World's Toughest Test."
In USA TODAY's exclusive look
at the competition show's Season 5 premiere on Sept. 24, the former New York Congressman, 38, is put in the hot seat when real-life military veterans Jovon Quarles and Billy Billingham pull him aside to discuss an incident where he failed to follow commands earlier in the day."I was caught off guard," Santos says, adding he has "severe back pain" that "got the best of me." Quarles, however, disapproves of the explanation: "There's no such thing as excuses."
He then brings up Santos' criminal history: "We need to get into something with you. One of the things that you were convicted of wire fraud,
money laundering, identity theft, stolen funds you use for personal things – OnlyFans, Botox, stuff that that you wanted to spend money on."
In 2023, Santos was expelled from New York’s 3rd District in the House of Representatives after being charged with fraud and campaign finance violations. He ultimately pleaded guilty to fraud and identity theft and was sentenced to seven years in prison, but President Donald Trump commuted the sentence just three months after it began in 2025.
"I didn't steal any money, sir. I misappropriated funds," Santos says.
When Quarles brings up the disgraced politician's disproven claims that his mother was in the Twin Towers on 9/11, Santos interjects, "That's not accurate."
"I mean, you lied about your family's heritage, your degrees, your employers, your whole identity," Quarles continued. "Why would you do that?"
Acknowledging he "made a choice" to say those things, Santos admits, "At one point, I wanted to get caught because it was just so much to carry a lie. Once you tell one lie, you tell a second, you tell a third." He explains his "ambition led me to want more" as a first-generation American child of immigrant parents.
"Stop," Billingham interrupted. "I don't want your lies."
"Do you believe that you paid your dues for everything that you was convicted for?" Quarles asks, staring Santos in the eyes.
"I think I was overcharged by this overly zealous court," Santos replies.
Santos is one of 15 celebrities appearing on Season 5. He is joined by NBA champion and podcaster Matt Barnes, world champion boxer Alycia Baumgardner, actress Candace Cameron Bure, actor and entrepreneur David Charvet, reality star Brandi Glanville, former reality star Collin Gosselin, actor Oliver Hudson, NFL champion LeSean McCoy, Olympic figure skater Maxim Naumov, actor Ruby Rose, comedian Hanning Stocking, and reality stars Breana Tiesi, Alexia Umansky and Mauricio Umansky.
"Special Forces: World's Toughest Test" Season 5 premieres Thursday, Sept. 24, at 9 p.m. ET. on Fox.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: George Santos says he was 'overcharged' for fraud on 'Special Forces' | Exclusive
