Former Congressman George Santos appeared in federal court for a pre-trial hearing regarding multiple charges, including wire fraud and identity theft. Santos has pleaded not guilty and is currently out on a $500,000 bond, with his trial set to begin on September 16, facing a maximum of 20 years if convicted. The prosecution seeks to include evidence of Santos' campaign lies and statements from his former campaign manager, while his defense has requested a partially anonymous jury due to extensive negative media coverage. A judge denied the defense's request for an extensive questionnaire for potential jurors, labeling it as a tactic to delay proceedings. Santos, who was expelled from Congress in December, continues to attract media attention and has expressed intentions to run for Congress again as an Independent. The case remains closely watched due to its implications of fraud and campaign finance violations.