In a surprising turn of events, former New York Republican Representative George Santos was released from a federal prison in New Jersey late Friday night.
This followed President Donald Trump's decision to commute Santos' seven-year sentence for fraud, ending his incarceration after less than three months served. Joseph Murray, one of Santos' lawyers, confirmed the release of the former lawmaker from the Federal Correctional Institution in Fairton, New Jersey, around 11 p.m. ET. Santos was welcomed by his family outside the facility.
As reported by The Associated Press, Trump announced the commutation of Santos' sentence and ordered his immediate release, telling the disgraced lawmaker to "have a great life." Trump's post on Truth Social, his social media platform, read, "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."
He continued, "George has been in solitary confinement for long stretches of time and, by all accounts, has been horribly mistreated. Therefore, I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY. Good luck George, have a great life!"
The commutation has spared Santos, 37, from serving the remainder of his 87-month sentence and has erased more than $370,000 in court-ordered restitution. This decision adds Santos to a growing list of political allies and MAGA figures granted clemency by Trump.
Santos' release comes less than three months after he pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. His expulsion from Congress in 2023 followed an ethics probe and a sweeping federal indictment.
Trump's sudden decision to commute Santos' sentence was influenced by what he called the unchecked "fraud" of Democrat Senator Richard Blumenthal. Trump wrote, "I started to think about George when the subject of Democrat Senator Richard 'Da Nang Dick' Blumenthal came up again." He continued, "As everyone remembers, 'Da Nang' stated for almost twenty years that he was a proud Vietnam Veteran, having endured the worst of the War, watching the Wounded and Dead as he raced up the hills and down the valleys, blood streaming from his face." Trump concluded, "This is far worse than what George Santos did, and at least Santos had the Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN!"
Santos reported to FCI Fairton on July 25 and was housed in a minimum security prison camp with fewer than 50 other inmates. Throughout his roughly 84 days in prison, Santos maintained an active account on X, where he reposted a screenshot of Trump's Truth Social post on Friday. During his time behind bars, Santos wrote regular dispatches in a local newspaper on Long Island, mainly complaining about the prison conditions. However, in his latest letter, he appealed directly to Trump, citing his loyalty to the president's agenda and to the Republican Party.
Santos' commutation is Trump's latest high-profile act of clemency for former Republican politicians since retaking the White House in January. In late May, he pardoned former Rep. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y., who in 2014 pleaded guilty to underreporting wages and revenue at a restaurant he ran in Manhattan. He also pardoned former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland, whose promising political career was upended by a corruption scandal and two federal prison stints.
Santos, who became the first openly gay Republican elected to Congress in 2022, served less than a year after it was revealed he had fabricated much of his life story. On the campaign trail, Santos claimed he was a successful business consultant with Wall Street credentials and a sizable real estate portfolio. However, when his resume came under scrutiny, Santos admitted he had never graduated from Baruch College, never worked at Citigroup and Goldman Sachs, and was not Jewish. In reality, the then-34-year-old was struggling financially and even faced eviction.
Santos was charged in 2023 with stealing from donors and his campaign, fraudulently collecting unemployment benefits, and lying to Congress about his wealth. Within months, he was expelled from the House with 105 Republicans joining with Democrats to make Santos just the sixth member in the chambers history to be ousted by colleagues. Santos pleaded guilty as he was set to stand trial.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., urged the White House to commute Santos' sentence, saying in a letter sent just days into his prison bid that the punishment was "a grave injustice" and a product of judicial overreach. Greene was among those who cheered the announcement Friday.
However, Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., who represents part of Long Island and has been highly critical of Santos, said in a post on social media that Santos "didn't merely lie" and 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," LaLota said.
Santos' clemency appears to clear not just his prison term, but also any "further fines, restitution, probation, supervised release, or other conditions," according to a copy of Trump's order posted on X by Ed Martin, the Justice Department's pardon attorney. As part of his guilty plea, Santos had agreed to pay restitution of $373,750 and forfeiture of $205,003. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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