Donald Trump on Friday commuted the more than seven-year prison sentence of former US representative George Santos for fraud and identity theft, ordering his immediate release.
Santos, who was expelled from Congress after a brief, scandal-plagued tenure, had pleaded guilty to inflating fundraising figures and falsifying donor names to secure Republican Party financial support during the 2022 election cycle.
He was elected that year to represent a portion of New York City and its eastern suburbs.
During his campaign, Santos falsely claimed he attended New York University, worked at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, and that his grandparents had fled the Nazis during World War II.
On Friday, Trump asserted that Santos had been subjected to “terrible mistreatment” during his time in prison.
“George Santos was somewhat of a ‘rogue,’ but there are many rogues throughout our country who aren’t forced to serve seven years in prison,” Trump said on Truth Social.
“Therefore, I just signed a commutation, releasing George Santos from prison IMMEDIATELY,” he added.
Santos spent much of his 11-month term engulfed in scandal, sidelined by fellow lawmakers, and mocked by late-night comedians after it was revealed he had fabricated much of his personal history.
Earlier this week, he published what he called a “passionate plea to President Trump,” praising him and asking for “the opportunity to return to my family, my friends, and my community”.
He admitted to having made errors, acknowledged the repercussions, and expressed that he is assuming complete accountability for his actions.
The US constitution gives the president broad power to issue pardons to wipe away federal criminal convictions, or commutations to modify sentences.
During his second term, Trump has made sweeping use of his clemency powers.
On his first day back in office, he pardoned approximately 1,500 individuals charged over the 6 January, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.
The riot was a failed attempt to prevent congressional certification of former President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory over Trump.
