US President Donald Trump has commuted the sentence of George Santos, a former Republican congressman serving seven years in prison for fraud and identity theft.
In a post on social media, Trump stated that Santos has been horribly mistreated, adding: Therefore, I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY. Good luck George, have a great life!
The former lawmaker was only the sixth in US history to be expelled from Congress, following a damning ethics report in 2023.
Santos, who admitted to stealing the identities of 11 people—including family members—was serving his sentence at a minimum-security facility in New Jersey and was released on Friday night, according to reports.
Following Trump's announcement, one of Santos's lawyers, Joseph Murray, expressed gratitude, saying, God bless President Donald J Trump. In April, when Santos was sentenced, the judge highlighted the magnitude of his misstatements during his election campaign.
In his own defense, Santos had pleaded for forgiveness in court, stating: I cannot rewrite the past, but I can control the road ahead. His misdeeds included lying about his education, misusing campaign funds for personal luxuries, and allegedly stealing from a fundraiser for a dying dog.
Trump further justified his action by critiquing Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, accusing him of fabricating his military service. Santos had previously published an open letter to Trump, begging for a pardon and expressing the desire for a chance to rebuild his life and reconnect with his community.
Despite the commutation, Santos's criminal conviction remains, as commutations do not erase legal culpability, unlike pardons.
