Trump Commutes George Santos’ Prison Sentence, Orders Immediate Release

President Donald Trump announced Friday on Truth Social that he has commuted the prison sentence of ex-Congressman George Santos, who had been serving a seven-year term for multiple fraud convictions.In his post, Trump characterized Santos as a “rogue,” but argued that others with similar or worse conduct have not faced such severe punishment. The former president also claimed that Santos had been subjected to harsh treatment while incarcerated, including prolonged periods in solitary confinement.“George has been in solitary confinement for long stretches of time and, by all accounts, has been horribly mistreated,” Trump wrote. “Therefore, I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY. Good luck George, have a great life.”Santos had been serving his sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fairton, New Jersey, according to the federal Bureau of Prisons.In a lengthier explanation accompanying the announcement, Trump drew a comparison between Santos and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), whom he criticized for previously misstating his military service during the Vietnam War. Trump argued that Blumenthal’s actions were “far worse” than Santos’s offenses and suggested that political bias played a role in Santos’s punishment. Related News | George Santos' Letter To Trump Revealed After Sentence Commutation. Here's What It Said“At least Santos had the courage, conviction, and intelligence to always vote Republican,” Trump added.The commutation means Santos will be released from prison immediately, though his convictions remain in place. Commutations reduce or eliminate a sentence but do not expunge the underlying criminal record.Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene was among the biggest proponents of a pardon or relief for Santos after he went to prison on July 25 for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft related to hundreds of thousands of dollars that he stole from supporters.George Santos was sentenced to 87 months in prison and ordered to pay nearly $579,000 in restitution and forfeiture after pleading guilty in 2024. According to the Justice Department, Santos committed multiple scams, including falsifying campaign fundraising reports to qualify for federal support, stealing credit card information from donors, defrauding political contributors through a limited liability company, and fraudulently claiming unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also lied to the House by overstating his income and assets.