On Friday evening, former President Donald Trump announced that he has commuted the prison sentence of George Santos, effectively releasing the disgraced former Republican congressman immediately. In a post on Truth Social, Trump referred to Santos as somewhat of a 'rogue,' adding that there are many individuals throughout the country who aren't subjected to lengthy prison sentences.
George Santos was sentenced to a staggering 87 months in federal prison this year after pleading guilty to serious charges, including wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. He began serving his sentence in late July 2023. The 37-year-old representative from New York held a seat in the House of Representatives for less than a year before being expelled from Congress amid significant scandal in December 2023. Even before taking his oath, Santos had admitted to lying about crucial details of his life during his campaign.
During his brief tenure in Congress, Santos faced multiple charges from the Department of Justice, which included fraud, theft, money laundering, and making false statements. These serious accusations contributed to the controversy surrounding his political career.
Trump's decision to commute Santos' sentence followed appeals from various friends and allies of the former congressman, as reported by a senior White House official to NBC News. Recently, Trump had also engaged with Santos’ writings from prison, which detailed his living conditions. In a letter published in the local Long Island news outlet, The South Shore Press, Santos made a heartfelt plea for clemency directly to Trump, stating, “You have always been a man of second chances, a leader who believes in redemption and renewal.”
Trump reflected on Santos' situation in his social media post, drawing a parallel with Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who faced backlash during his 2010 Senate campaign for falsely claiming he served in Vietnam. Earlier in October, Trump had called for an investigation into Blumenthal, demanding justice for his misstatements regarding military service. In response to Trump's accusations, Blumenthal described them as “completely deceptive and distorted.”
In his post, Trump argued that Blumenthal's record is significantly worse than Santos' actions, asserting that at least Santos had “the Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN.” He emphasized that Santos had endured difficult conditions in solitary confinement and claimed he had been “horribly mistreated.” Concluding his statement, Trump declared, “Therefore, I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY. Good luck George, have a great life!”
