WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Friday announced that he has commuted the sentence of former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., releasing him from prison.
“George has been in solitary confinement for long stretches of time and, by all accounts, has been horribly mistreated,” Trump posted on Truth Social Friday evening. “Therefore, I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY. Good luck George, have a great life!”
Santos was sentenced to more than seven years in prison.
He pleaded guilty to charges of committing wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors said was part of a yearslong scheme that preyed upon the campaign finance system and his own political party, donors and family members to line his own pockets.
A senior White House official said Trump made the decision to help Santos this week.
“The reach-outs on this that President Trump got were overwhelming,” another White House official said. “He heard from so many people, and in recent days he decided it was the right decision. It’s his call, and he made it.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) had publicly called on Trump to pardon Santos.
“George Santos never raped anybody, never murdered anybody, is not a child sex-trafficker. Why is he in solitary confinement?” she said. “That is an extreme treatment for someone for the crimes that he was convicted of.”
Greene called for a pardon after learning Santos had spent more than a month in solitary confinement. She posted on X in September that Santos was told he was being held in solitary “‘for his safety’ due to threats.”
In May 2023, he was indicted on federal charges, including money laundering and wire fraud.
“George Santos didn’t merely lie — he stole millions, defrauded an election, and his crimes (for which he pled guilty) warrant more than a three-month sentence,” LaLota said. “He should devote the rest of his life to demonstrating remorse and making restitution to those he wronged.”
