Fraud-Convicted Ex-Rep George Santos Freed After Trump Grants Clemency/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump commuted the sentence of former U.S. Rep. George Santos, releasing him after just 84 days in federal prison. Santos pleaded guilty to fraud and identity theft and was serving a seven-year sentence. The move sparked mixed reactions, including support from Marjorie Taylor Greene and criticism from fellow Republicans.
Trump Commutes George Santos Sentence: Quick Looks
- Trump grants full commutation to George Santos in federal fraud case.
- Santos was sentenced to over seven years for identity theft and campaign fraud.
- Released from New Jersey prison after just 84 days.
- Trump called Santos a “rogue” but said others have done worse.
- Clemency includes cancellation of all fines, restitution, and supervision.
- Santos previously pleaded for clemency in local newspaper column.
- The former congressman admitted to fabricating much of his background.
- Santos was expelled from Congress in 2024 with bipartisan support.
- Marjorie Taylor Greene supported the commutation, calling the sentence unjust.
- Critics say Santos has shown little remorse for his crimes.
Deep Look
Trump Commutes Sentence of George Santos After Fraud Conviction and Plea for Clemency
NEW YORK — Former U.S. Representative George Santos walked free from federal prison Friday night after President Donald Trump commuted his sentence in a surprise act of clemency, cutting short what was to be a more than seven-year prison term for fraud and identity theft.
Santos, once a rising figure in Republican politics, was released from the Federal Correctional Institution in Fairton, New Jersey, around 11 p.m., according to his attorney Joseph Murray. Family members were reportedly waiting to greet him outside the facility.
Trump made the announcement on his social media platform Truth Social, posting: “George Santos was somewhat of a ‘rogue,’ but there are many rogues throughout our Country that aren’t forced to serve seven years in prison. I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY.”
He added: “Good luck George, have a great life!”
Santos’ Fall from Congress to Conviction
Santos, a New York Republican and the first openly gay member of his party elected to Congress, served less than a year in the House before being expelled following revelations of an extensive pattern of lies and financial crimes.
He had admitted to stealing the identities of 11 people, including family members, and misusing donor funds during his 2022 congressional campaign. These actions led to a guilty plea and a sentence handed down in April 2025.
The former lawmaker reported to prison on July 25 and was housed in a low-security facility alongside fewer than 50 inmates. While incarcerated, Santos maintained a presence in the public eye, writing letters published by a Long Island newspaper, The South Shore Press, in which he detailed prison life and ultimately made an emotional appeal to Trump.
In his October 13 column, Santos wrote, “Sir, I appeal to your sense of justice and humanity… I humbly ask that you consider the unusual pain and hardship of this environment and allow me the opportunity to return to my family, my friends, and my community.”
Trump’s Pattern of Clemency for GOP Allies
Santos’ release is the latest example of Trump using his presidential clemency powers to assist embattled Republican figures. Earlier this year, Trump pardoned former Rep. Michael Grimm, convicted of tax fraud, and former Connecticut Governor John Rowland, who served time for political corruption.
However, Trump’s decision to free Santos is particularly controversial due to the former lawmaker’s deep unpopularity even among Republicans. His deceitful background — falsely claiming to have graduated from Baruch College, played college volleyball, and worked at Citigroup and Goldman Sachs — sparked bipartisan outrage.
Santos even falsely claimed Jewish heritage, later saying he meant he was “Jew-ish,” while being raised Catholic.
He also faced financial troubles, including eviction notices, even as he presented himself as a wealthy Wall Street consultant. These fabrications, along with his criminal behavior, led the House of Representatives to expel him in December 2024, with 105 Republicans joining Democrats in the vote — making him only the sixth lawmaker in U.S. history to be expelled by colleagues.
Clemency Draws Praise and Backlash
Supporters of Santos celebrated the decision. Chief among them was Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who had written to the White House shortly after Santos began his sentence, calling the punishment “a grave injustice” and blaming the judiciary for overreach.
But not all Republicans agreed.
Rep. Nick LaLota, who represents part of Long Island, issued a sharp rebuke. “Santos didn’t merely lie,” LaLota posted on social media. “His crimes warrant more than a three-month sentence. He should devote the rest of his life to demonstrating remorse and making restitution to those he wronged.”
Clemency Clears All Legal Consequences
According to a copy of the official commutation posted on X by Justice Department pardon attorney Ed Martin, Santos’ clemency is comprehensive. It clears not only his prison sentence, but also cancels all related fines, restitution, probation, and supervised release.
Under his original sentence, Santos had agreed to pay $373,750 in restitution and forfeit $205,003 as part of the plea deal.
In defending the commutation, Trump compared Santos’ dishonesty to Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat who once falsely implied he had served in Vietnam.
“This is far worse than what George Santos did,” Trump wrote. “At least Santos had the Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN!”
Trump himself was convicted in a New York court last year related to hush money payments, a case he has repeatedly dismissed as a politically motivated “witch hunt.”
What Comes Next for Santos?
Santos has not yet issued a public statement beyond reposting Trump’s commutation on his X account. Whether he seeks a return to public life or chooses to retreat into private life remains to be seen.
His early release, however, has reignited fierce debates about accountability, political favoritism, and the use of presidential pardon powers in the modern era — issues likely to remain central in Trump’s second term.
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