Donald Trump on Friday commuted the more than seven-year prison sentence of former US representative George Santos for fraud and identity theft, ordering his immediate release.
Santos, who was expelled from Congress after a brief, scandal-plagued tenure, had pleaded guilty to inflating fundraising figures and falsifying donor names to secure Republican Party financial support during the 2022 election cycle.
He was elected that year to represent a portion of New York City and its eastern suburbs.
During his campaign, Santos falsely claimed he attended New York University, worked at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, and that his grandparents had fled the Nazis during World War II.
In a statement made on Friday, former President Donald Trump asserted that George Santos has faced severe mistreatment while incarcerated. Trump’s comments have sparked conversations and debates surrounding the conditions and treatment of prisoners, particularly in high-profile cases. The former president’s remarks add a new layer to the ongoing discussions about the justice system and its handling of such cases.
“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 said on Truth Social.
“Therefore, I just signed a commutation, releasing George Santos from prison IMMEDIATELY,” he added.
Santos spent much of his 11-month term engulfed in scandal, sidelined by fellow lawmakers, and mocked by late-night comedians after it was revealed he had fabricated much of his personal history.