George Santos, who was expelled from the US House of Representatives, arrives for his sentencing on criminal corruption charges at the Central Islip Federal Courthouse in Central Islip, New York, US on April 25, 2025.
Shannon Stapleton | reuters
chairman donald trump Said on Friday evening that he has waived the jail sentence george santosImmediately release the disgraced former Republican congressman.
“Santos was ‘rogue’ to some extent, but there are many rogues across our country who are not forced to spend seven years in prison,” Trump wrote in a letter. satya social post,
This year, Santos was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison. pleading guilty To commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. He began serving his sentence in late July.
The 37-year-old New York representative previously served in the House for less than a year expelled from congress in December 2023 under a cloud of scandal.
Even before being sworn in, Santos admitted that he had lied about key details of his life during the campaign. While in Congress, he was charged by the Justice Department with multiple federal crimes, including fraud, theft, money laundering, and making false statements.
A senior White House official told NBC News on Friday evening that Trump’s decision to commute Santos’ sentence came after several friends and associates of the imprisoned former politician appealed for clemency.
Trump also recently recited Santos writing from prison the officer told NBC, describing his living conditions.
one in flattering letter Published Monday in local Long Island news outlet The South Shore Press, Santos asked Trump directly for clemency.
“You have always been a man of second chances, a leader who believes in redemption and renewal,” Santos wrote. “Now I am asking you from the bottom of my heart to extend that same faith to me.”
In his social media post on Friday, Trump said he started thinking about Santos after reminding him of Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who drew heavy criticism for saying he “served in Vietnam” during the 2010 Senate campaign. never deployed there,
Trump had earlier said in October that Blumenthal “should be investigated, and justice should be sought.” The attack came just hours after Attorney General Pam Bondi led a directly combative and politically charged Senate hearing Blumenthal accused of lying Regarding his military record.
blumenthal said in 2010 He had said wrong things about his service on several occasions. Last week on CNN, The senator said Trump’s allegations were “completely misleading and distorted.”
Trump did not serve in the military.
Trump wrote on Friday that Blumenthal’s record “is much worse than George Santos’, and at least Santos had the courage, conviction and intelligence to always vote Republican!”
“George has been in solitary confinement for a long time and has been treated very poorly,” Trump wrote.
“Therefore, I signed a commutation to immediately release George Santos from prison. Good luck George, have a nice life!”
