President Donald Trump has decided to commute the over seven-year prison term of ex-U.S. congressman George Santos for committing fraud and identity theft, directing his immediate release. Santos, who got ousted from Congress following a brief, scandal-ridden stint, confessed to exaggerating fundraising amounts and fabricating donor identities to secure financial backing from the Republican Party during the 2022 election cycle. He won the election that year to represent a part of New York City and its surrounding areas as a Republican.
Throughout his campaign, Santos falsely asserted that he attended New York University, had employment at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, and that his grandparents escaped the Nazis during World War II. In April of this year, he was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison and commenced serving his term in July.
Trump stated on Friday that Santos had suffered severe mistreatment while in prison. He mentioned, “George Santos was somewhat of a ‘rogue,’ but there are many rogues throughout our country who aren’t forced to serve seven years in prison.” Trump further added, “Therefore, I just signed a commutation, releasing George Santos from prison IMMEDIATELY.”
Santos encountered numerous scandals and was isolated by fellow lawmakers during his 11-month tenure in Congress, becoming a target for ridicule by late-night comedians after it was revealed that he had falsified many aspects of his personal background. Earlier this week, he penned what he described as a heartfelt appeal to President Trump, expressing admiration and seeking “the chance to reunite with my family, my friends, and my community.” He acknowledged his errors, accepted the consequences, and assumed full accountability.
The U.S. Constitution grants the president broad authority to issue pardons to annul federal criminal convictions or commutations to alter sentences. In his second term, Trump has extensively exercised his clemency powers. On his first day back in office, he pardoned around 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol, an unsuccessful effort to impede the congressional validation of President Joe Biden’s 2020 election win over Trump.
Additionally, Trump has extended clemency to various political figures, including former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich and former Cincinnati city council member P.G. Sittenfeld, both Democrats, as well as former Republican congressman Michael Grimm of New York and former Connecticut governor John Rowland.