New York, New York - Disgraced former Congressman George Santos recently shared all the things he learned since he was eliminated from the reality TV show Special Forces: World's Toughest Test.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Santos admitted he "didn't know what to expect" when he signed up for the show, and that his "one regret" is that he would have "pushed through and, at least, completed" the challenge that forced him to exit the show.
On the October 1 episode, Santos self-eliminated as he and other contestants were preparing to climb up and down a ladder that was suspended 300 feet in the air as part of their very first challenge.
Santos explained that while he planned to "brave" the challenge, pain caused by his sciatica – a condition that causes nerve pain in the back and legs – quickly grew "unbearable."
"I was just terrified that the numbness in my leg would cause me to slip and dangle over the cliff," Santos said. "That was scary to me."
The former politician claimed he saw a doctor shortly after who was "shocked" at how bad his condition had become, as he was found with "two bulging spasms" on his lower lumbar that were "pinching my sciatica."
George Santos says Special Forces inspired him to "make better choices"
Santos was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to using stolen donor money to bankroll a lavish lifestyle for himself.
But after serving just three months, his sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump for seemingly no reason other than the fact that Santos is an outspoken supporter of his.
Despite his scandals, Santos has insisted on staying in the public eye by regularly commenting on politics on social media, launching a podcast, and, now, starring on reality TV.
In his debut episode, the show's hosts pressed him about his criminal history, of which he claimed he was "overcharged by this overly zealous court."
Overall, Santos also said the experience taught him to "make better choices, make better health choices, make better decision choices."
"Understand that sacrifice is a part of life. Nothing is gonna be easy to you, and nothing's gonna come easy to you in life. You're gonna have to work hard for it."