Republican George Santos was serving a seven-year sentence for fraud and identity theft
US President Donald Trump has ordered the release of former Republican congressman George Santos, who had served less than three months of a seven-year prison term for fraud and identity theft.
Trump announced the decision on his Truth Social platform on Friday, acknowledging that Santos, 37, was “somewhat of a ‘rogue’” but said his punishment was excessive.
“I just signed a commutation, releasing George Santos from prison immediately,” Trump wrote, adding that the former lawmaker had been “horribly mistreated” and was “in solitary confinement for long stretches of time.”
He also compared Santos’ case with that of Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, who had misstated his Vietnam War service record. “This is far worse than what George Santos did, and at least Santos had the Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN.”
Unlike a pardon, a commutation shortens a sentence but does not forgive or erase the conviction. Santos remains eligible to run for federal office.
The House of Representatives expelled Santos in December 2023 after an ethics report found he had engaged in financial misconduct and lied extensively about his background, making him the sixth member ever ousted from the chamber.
Santos pleaded guilty in 2024 to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, admitting that he diverted campaign donations for personal use and filed false disclosures during his 2022 run for Congress. Some of his suspect purchases included Botox treatments and an OnlyFans subscription, according to the Ethics Committee report.
The ex-congressman also faced earlier controversy after reports that he had performed in drag in Brazil. He initially called the stories “categorically false,” but later said: “I was young, and I had fun at a festival. Sue me for having a life.”
Trump has made broad use of his clemency powers in his second term, including mass pardons for about 1,500 people charged over the January 6 Capitol riot.
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