George Santos Under Federal Scrutiny for Kalshi Prediction Bets

The probe centers on a series of wagers Santos placed concerning his own attendance at President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. Although the former lawmaker publicly stated his intent to attend the event on X, he later claimed to be watching from an airport. Records indicate he had already placed bets on the platform that he would not appear, a move that reportedly netted him tens of thousands of dollars in profit. While Santos told NPR the investigation was news to him, he declined to confirm or deny the existence of a Kalshi account.

This inquiry adds another layer to the legal history of the former New York representative, who was expelled from Congress in 2023. Santos previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft, receiving an 87-month sentence that was later commuted by President Trump in October 2025. The investigation highlights growing regulatory anxiety surrounding prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket. Authorities are increasingly examining whether these platforms can effectively prevent users from exploiting nonpublic information to profit from geopolitical events and political outcomes.