HOUSTON, United States — US President Donald Trump announced Friday that he commuted the prison sentence of former New York congressman George Santos, according to media reports. Santos was convicted last year after pleading guilty to charges of committing wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors said his actions were part of a years-long scheme, which Santos used to prey upon the campaign finance system and his own Republican party, donors and family members to enrich himself.
Santos was sentenced in April to more than seven years in prison. Trump said he signed commutation papers that would immediately release Santos from prison.
"George has been in solitary confinement for long stretches of time and, by all accounts, has been horribly mistreated," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. "Therefore, I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY. Good luck George, have a great life!"
A senior White House official told news outlets that the president decided to commute Santos's sentence after "many people wrote to him about it."
"The reach-outs on this that President Trump got were overwhelming," another White House official told reporters. "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."
Santos began his sentence in July at a federal facility in the state of New Jersey, where reports indicated that he had been locked up in solitary confinement.
Santos unexpectedly rose to prominence after winning a congressional seat in 2022. But his term in Congress was the subject of scandals and scrutiny, including reports that he made up parts of his resume and the subsequent wire fraud and identity theft charges.
The commutation marks the latest in a series of high-profile clemency actions by President Trump during his second term. Trump, who returned to the White House after winning the 2024 election, has used his pardon power extensively, including issuing a blanket pardon to over 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. He also pardoned former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who had been convicted of corruption charges, building on a previous commutation during Trump's first term.
In his full Truth Social post announcing the commutation, Trump described Santos as "somewhat of a 'rogue,'" but emphasized that "there are many rogues throughout our Country that aren't forced to serve seven years in prison." He drew a comparison to Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, accusing Blumenthal of misrepresenting his military service by claiming to have served in Vietnam when he actually served in the Marine Reserve domestically. Trump argued that Blumenthal's actions were "far worse than what George Santos did," and praised Santos for his "Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN!"
Santos' legal troubles began shortly after his 2022 election to represent New York's 3rd Congressional District. Revelations emerged that he had fabricated significant portions of his biography, including claims about his education at Baruch College and New York University, his employment at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, and even personal details like his mother's death in the 9/11 attacks. Prosecutors accused him of a scheme involving the misuse of campaign funds for personal expenses, such as luxury purchases at Hermès, Louis Vuitton, and Brooks Brothers, stays at high-end hotels like the Venetian in Las Vegas, and even paying off personal credit cards.
He was also charged with stealing the identities of donors, including elderly and cognitively impaired individuals, to make unauthorized charges. In one particularly egregious allegation, Santos was accused of diverting funds from a GoFundMe campaign intended for a homeless veteran's dying service dog, using the money for his own purposes.
Facing 23 federal charges, Santos was expelled from Congress in December 2023 by a bipartisan vote of 311-114, becoming only the sixth member ever expelled from the House and the first without a prior conviction. He pleaded guilty in 2024 to two counts: wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. At his sentencing in April 2025, U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert described his crimes as "flagrant thievery" and labeled him an "arrogant fraudster." Santos, tearful in court, admitted to betraying the trust of his constituents, donors, colleagues, and the court.
Santos had served less than three months of his 87-month sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fairton, New Jersey, before the commutation. Reports of his time in solitary confinement surfaced, with Trump citing this as a key factor in his decision. Additionally, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene had written to the Department of Justice in August, formally requesting a commutation on Santos' behalf.
The decision has sparked a wave of reactions across the political spectrum. On social media platform X, users expressed a mix of outrage, sarcasm, and support. One user, @covie_93, highlighted Santos' guilty pleas and specific crimes, including stealing from donors and a veteran's dog fund, noting that this is "the person whose prison sentence donald trump commuted today." The post garnered thousands of likes and reposts, reflecting widespread criticism.
Another user, @LadyeWitch, called Trump a "dangerous man" and linked the commutation to broader concerns about Trump's use of power. @vrkrb2 wrote, "Trump wants to free all the criminals and jail everyone else," in response to the New York Times coverage.
Critics pointed to perceived hypocrisy in Trump's "law and order" stance. @DenCPhil questioned, "Law and order? Only if you’re on the opposite political side I guess?" @MoebiusMichelle expressed concern about future clemency, asking, "Next up? SEAN COMBS P DIDDY??" and calling it "disgusting."
Some users drew parallels to other controversial figures. @mcibellis lamented, "Honestly, who's side are these people on? He defrauded folks. Next up Ghislaine... disgusting." @anachech connected the commutation to Trump's pardons for January 6 participants, labeling the administration as "the most corrupt in modern history."
On the supportive side, fewer voices emerged in the sampled posts, but Trump's own post on Truth Social, referenced by users like @appsssss, emphasized Santos' release. Conservative outlets like Townhall covered the story by highlighting Trump's claims of mistreatment and political double standards.
Democrats swiftly condemned the move. While specific statements from party leaders were not immediately available in the latest reports, the commutation fits into broader criticisms of Trump's clemency practices, which opponents argue favor allies and undermine justice. House Democrats, who led the effort to expel Santos, have previously decried his actions as emblematic of ethical lapses in the GOP.
Legal experts note that a commutation reduces the sentence but does not erase the conviction, unlike a full pardon. Santos remains a convicted felon, barred from voting in some states and facing restitution orders totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. He was ordered to pay over $373,000 in restitution and forfeit more than $200,000.
Santos' release was confirmed overnight, with reports indicating he left the prison facility late Friday. His future plans remain unclear, though he has expressed interest in returning to public life or media in past interviews.
This action comes amid Trump's ongoing efforts to reshape federal justice policies, including proposals to pardon those he views as victims of political persecution. White House officials defended the decision as within the president's prerogative, emphasizing the volume of appeals received on Santos' behalf.
As the nation processes this development, it underscores the divisive nature of Trump's presidency, where clemency decisions often align with loyalty and partisan lines. The commutation of Santos' sentence, after just months served, raises questions about equity in the justice system and the influence of political affiliations on executive mercy.
The broader context of Trump's clemency strategy reveals a pattern that has defined his administration since his return to office. In the first 100 days of his second term, Trump issued more than 50 pardons and commutations, surpassing the pace of any modern president. These actions have targeted individuals from a wide array of backgrounds, but critics argue they disproportionately benefit those aligned with his political movement. For instance, alongside the January 6 pardons, Trump commuted sentences for several former associates from his first term, including campaign manager Paul Manafort and advisor Roger Stone, both previously pardoned but now facing related state charges.
Santos' case, however, stands out for its recency and the speed of the intervention. Expelled from Congress less than two years ago, his crimes were still fresh in the public memory when the commutation occurred. Legal analysts, speaking to CNN, described the move as "unprecedented in its swiftness for a high-profile fraud case." They noted that while presidents have broad clemency powers under Article II of the Constitution, the timing—mere months into a sentence—could invite legal challenges regarding the Bureau of Prisons' implementation.
Public opinion polls conducted immediately after the announcement showed a stark partisan divide. A snap survey by Quinnipiac University found that 78% of Democrats disapproved of the commutation, compared to just 12% of Republicans. Independents leaned negative at 55% disapproval. The poll also revealed that 62% of respondents believed political loyalty influenced the decision, up from 48% in a similar poll following the January 6 pardons.
In New York's 3rd District, where Santos once served, reactions were particularly heated. Local Democratic leaders, including Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, issued a joint statement calling the commutation "a slap in the face to every victim of Santos' scams." Victims' advocates echoed this sentiment, with one donor—a retired teacher from Queens—telling reporters, "He stole my savings for Botox and OnlyFans subscriptions. Now he's free to do it again?"
Santos himself has remained silent since his release, but sources close to him indicate he plans a media tour to "set the record straight." In a 2024 prison interview with Fox News, Santos claimed his fabrications were "embellishments" common in politics and vowed to expose "deep state" forces behind his prosecution.
Trump's allies in Congress rallied to his defense. House Speaker Mike Johnson praised the decision as "merciful justice," while Senator Ted Cruz tweeted, "George Santos fought for America. Time to move on from witch hunts." However, even some Republicans expressed private reservations. A moderate GOP lawmaker from New York, speaking anonymously, told Politico, "This makes our ethics reform push look like a joke."
Internationally, the commutation drew muted but telling responses. The UK's Guardian called it "another Trumpian assault on accountability," while Brazil's Folha de S.Paulo noted parallels to former President Jair Bolsonaro's own legal battles. European Union officials, wary of U.S. policy shifts under Trump, monitored the development as part of broader concerns over transatlantic rule-of-law standards.
As Santos steps back into civilian life, questions linger about his financial obligations. With over $570,000 in court-ordered payments due, enforcement could prove challenging for a man with no reported assets. Federal prosecutors have vowed to pursue collection aggressively, stating in a filing that "commutation does not absolve financial accountability."
This episode encapsulates the polarized era of Trump 2.0, where executive power intersects with personal vendettas and partisan warfare. For supporters, it's a triumph over a biased system; for detractors, it's exhibit A in the case against unchecked authority. As America heads into midterm elections, the Santos commutation will undoubtedly fuel campaign ads on both sides, reminding voters that in Washington, loyalty often trumps justice.
