Washington (BN24) – President Donald Trump announced Friday that he has commuted the prison sentence of former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., ordering his immediate release less than three months after he began serving time for wire fraud and identity theft.
Trump said on Truth Social that Santos had endured “long stretches of solitary confinement” and “horrible mistreatment” while incarcerated. “Therefore, I just signed a commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY. Good luck George, have a great life!” Trump wrote.
Santos had been sentenced in April to more than seven years in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors said he ran a yearslong scheme exploiting campaign finance rules, political donors, and even his own family to enrich himself.
Santos’ attorney said his client was “appreciative” of Trump’s decision, describing the sentence as “draconian.” He confirmed that Santos’ husband was picking him up from the federal prison in Fairton, New Jersey.
White House officials said Trump made the decision earlier this week after receiving “overwhelming” appeals. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., had publicly pushed for clemency, calling Santos’ punishment excessive and questioning his treatment in solitary confinement.
“George Santos never raped anybody, never murdered anybody, is not a child sex-trafficker. Why is he in solitary confinement?” Greene said in a recent interview, arguing his sentence was too harsh.
Santos’ swift release marks a sharp turn in a scandal-ridden political career. He was elected to Congress in 2022 but soon faced scrutiny after news reports revealed he fabricated large parts of his biography. By May 2023, he was indicted on multiple federal charges including wire fraud and money laundering. A House Ethics Committee report later found “substantial evidence” of criminal conduct, including the misuse of campaign funds.
Santos was expelled from the House in December 2023 after less than a year in office, becoming one of the few lawmakers in U.S. history to be ousted without a criminal conviction at the time.
Trump has leaned heavily on his clemency powers during his second term, issuing pardons and commutations to thousands, including hundreds charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
The commutation drew swift criticism from both parties. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., dismissed Trump’s remarks about him as “fabricated nonsense” and said there was “no excuse” for commuting Santos’ sentence.
Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., a member of the House Ethics Committee, said that Santos serving only a few months was “not justice.” Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., added that Santos “stole millions, defrauded an election,” and should spend more time behind bars.
