Santos's fines, restitution wiped out by Trump clemency order
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Former Representative George Santos of New York will not face additional penalties or need to make restitution payments following his criminal conviction, as detailed in his clemency order released on Monday.

Last Friday, Santos was freed from prison after President Trump commuted his sentence. Santos had begun serving an 87-month term just three months prior.

The clemency order specifies that Santos receives “an immediate commutation of his entire sentence to time served,” exempting him from further fines, restitution, probation, supervised release, or any additional conditions.

Santos had admitted guilt to charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in a plea agreement last summer. Alongside his prison sentence, he was initially sentenced to two years of supervised release and ordered to pay over $370,000 in restitution.

During an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, host Dana Bash questioned Santos about his obligation to pay the court-ordered restitution. Santos responded that he was uncertain but assured he would comply with all legal requirements.

“This is about a fine, and this is about paying money back,” Bash said in the interview. “And whether you describe them as victims or just donors to the NRCC, what the court said is that they should get their money back. Will you work to try to do that?”

“Well, look, I can do my best to do whatever the law requires of me, so, I don’t know what that is. I’ve been out of prison for two days. I agreed to come here to speak with you candidly and openly and not to obfuscate,” Santos replied.

“If it’s required of me by the law, yes. If it’s not, then, no. I will do whatever the law requires me to do,” he added.

Santos was originally sentenced to a seven-year prison term after he pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. He was expelled from Congress after reports revealed he fabricated much of his resume and lied on campaign finance reports. 

“George has been in solitary confinement for long stretches of time and, by all accounts, has been horribly mistreated,” Trump wrote Friday in a statement on Truth Social.

“Therefore, I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY. Good luck George, have a great life!” Trump added. 

Joe Murray, Santos’s attorney, said the former congressman was released around 11 p.m. Friday.

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