President Trump Commutes Former Congressman George Santos' Prison Sentence
President Donald Trump has commuted the prison sentence of former Representative George Santos, who was serving over seven years for fraud and identity theft.
President Donald Trump announced on Friday the commutation of former Representative George Santos' prison sentence, ordering his immediate release. Santos, 37, had been serving a seven-year term following his conviction for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
In a social media post, President Trump stated, "I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY." He described Santos as "somewhat of a 'rogue'" but noted that many such individuals do not serve seven-year sentences.
Santos, a New York Republican, was expelled from Congress in December 2023 after it was revealed that he had fabricated significant portions of his biography. He pleaded guilty in August 2024 to charges including wire fraud and identity theft, admitting to deceiving donors and misusing campaign funds.
Prior to the commutation, Santos had appealed to President Trump for clemency, expressing remorse for his actions and requesting a chance to rebuild his life. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene also advocated for Santos, calling his sentence "excessive" and a "grave injustice."
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, which prosecuted Santos, declined to comment on the commutation.
Fact-checking
Fact-check the facts of the article using external sources and databases.