Investigation into George Santos’ Alleged Betting Activity
Former New York Congressman George Santos is reportedly facing an investigation for allegedly placing bets on whether he would attend the State of the Union (SOTU) address in February.
Although Santos indicated via a show on X that he intended to attend, he ultimately did not show up. Around the same time, the prediction market platform Kalsi reportedly noted that he bet on his own attendance at the event. This information surfaced through someone familiar with the situation.
Federal authorities are now looking into whether Santos engaged in insider trading, according to reports.
In a video, Santos stated his intention to be present at the State of the Union address scheduled for February 23rd, saying, “I’m going to be in the gallery for the State of the Union, folks. Calm down, you trolls, calm down.”
Santos expressed surprise at the investigation when questioned by NPR, particularly when asked if he had a Kalsi account. He replied, “I don’t say yes or no.”
Watching SOTU on the airport TV wasn’t part of the plan. FML😡🤬
— George Santos (@Georgesantos) February 24, 2026
He mentioned he would reach out to a co-founder of Kalsi, someone he knows personally, to clarify if any investigation was indeed happening. Santos also stated he would keep NPR updated but noted that the outlet did not respond to his subsequent inquiries.
Three individuals with direct knowledge of Santos’ dealings informed NPR that they had bet on the platform that he would not attend the SOTU address. According to sources, Kalsi reported to both the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) about Santos, and the CFTC is actively looking into the situation.
The NYT mentioned it was uncertain if the Justice Department was involved in the investigation. However, NPR indicated that both the CFTC and the DOJ have opened inquiries into Santos.
Previously, Santos faced multiple charges, including fraud and money laundering, and was arrested in early May 2023 for a series of related offenses.
In a notable development, former President Donald Trump commuted Santos’ sentence by over seven years, leading to his release in October 2025, just months after his incarceration.
Before his sentencing, Santos gained attention for offering cameo appearances, reportedly charging $500 for personalized video messages. He claimed to have earned upwards of $600,000 from this venture in 2024.
The Daily Caller reached out to Santos via email for comment, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
