Trump Commutes Sentence of Ex-Rep George Santos

US President Donald Trump has commuted the sentence of former Republican congressman George Santos, who was serving seven years in prison for fraud and identity theft. Santos was expelled from Congress in 2023 after a damning ethics report and had been serving his sentence at a minimum-security jail in New Jersey. Trump justified the move by criticizing Democratic lawmaker Senator Richard Blumenthal, whom he accused of fabricating his US military service. Santos had published an open letter to Trump earlier this week, pleading to be pardoned and apologizing for his actions. The commutation does not void Santos's criminal conviction.

President Donald Trump has commuted the prison sentence of George Santos, a former Republican congressman who was expelled from Congress in December 2023 due to a cloud of scandal. Santos had been sentenced to 87 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Trump cited Santos' harsh treatment in prison and compared his case to that of Senator Richard Blumenthal, who had lied about his military record. Santos had directly asked Trump for clemency in a letter, praising Trump's belief in second chances and redemption. The decision was made after multiple friends and allies of Santos appealed for his clemency and Trump read Santos' writings about his living conditions in prison.

Former Representative George Santos was released from federal prison after President Trump commuted his seven-year sentence for fraud. Santos, a Republican from New York, had pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Trump's decision was influenced by Santos's accounts of mistreatment in prison and their shared political views. The commutation has sparked controversy among Republicans, with some colleagues criticizing the decision while others, like Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, praised it.