Who Is George Santos? Disgraced Ex-NY Congressman Gets Prison Sentence Commuted by Trump

On Friday, President Donald Trump announced he had commuted the prison sentence of former Representative George Santos, who was serving seven years for fraud and identity theft involving hundreds of thousands of dollars stolen from supporters. Trump described Santos as a “rogue” but argued that many others with worse offenses have faced less severe punishment.He cited reports of Santos enduring solitary confinement and poor treatment in prison. Trump compared Santos’s actions to Senator Richard Blumenthal’s misstatements about serving in Vietnam, calling them more serious. He praised Santos for consistently voting Republican. The commutation takes effect immediately, releasing Santos from prison, though his convictions remain on record. Santos had been held in Fairton, New Jersey.Related News | Why Was George Santos In Prison? A Look At Ex-Congressman's Crimes As Trump Commutes Prison SentenceWho Is George Santos?George Santos, a Republican, served as the US Representative for New York’s 3rd Congressional District from January 3 to December 1, 2023. He won a surprising victory over incumbent Democrat Tom Suozzi in the 2022 midterm elections. However, his political career was soon engulfed by controversy.At 37, Santos faced intense media scrutiny after it was revealed that he had fabricated large portions of his personal and professional background, including his education, work experience, and heritage. He also failed to disclose a criminal record and pending lawsuits, prompting bipartisan calls for his resignation.In a historic move, the House of Representatives voted 311-114 to expel Santos, making him the first member ever expelled without prior conviction or ties to the Confederacy. Santos later pleaded guilty to identity theft and wire fraud in August 2024 and was sentenced in April 2025 to 87 months in prison. He began serving his sentence in July at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fairton, New Jersey.The Justice Department detailed multiple schemes by Santos, including falsifying campaign fundraising reports to secure federal support, stealing donors’ credit card information, defrauding political contributors through a limited liability company, and unlawfully claiming unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was also found to have significantly overstated his income and assets to Congress. Santos was ordered to pay nearly $579,000 in restitution and forfeiture as part of his sentence.