New York Congressman George Santos was released from federal prison on Friday after President Donald Trump commuted his sentence. Santos, a controversial Republican known for fabrications and fraudulent actions, had been serving a seven-year term for wire fraud and identity theft.
Santos walked out of the Federal Correctional Institution in Fairton, New Jersey, just hours after the announcement. His attorney, Joseph Murray, confirmed that Santos was “on his way home” following the commutation. Trump described Santos on Truth Social as “somewhat of a ‘rogue’” but expressed sympathy for the former congressman. “I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump wrote. “Good luck George, have a great life!”
The U.S. pardon attorney shared a photo of the signed commutation and noted feeling “honored” to play a small role in the process. Santos’s lawyer also thanked Trump on social media, calling him “the greatest President in US history.”
Santos began serving his 87-month sentence in July after pleading guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. His legal troubles led to his expulsion from Congress in 2023. Trump’s announcement came after Santos’s recent public letter describing his time in solitary confinement and appealing for a chance to rebuild his life.
The commutation followed pressure from prominent Republicans, including former House colleague Marjorie Taylor Greene. Greene called Santos’s sentence a “grave injustice” and argued that solitary confinement amounted to torture. She had sent letters urging Trump to grant clemency. Trump has a history of issuing pardons to allies. While he previously acknowledged Santos’s lies, he emphasized the former representative’s loyalty to the Republican Party. “He lied like hell,” Trump said, “but he was 100% for Trump.”
Greene publicly thanked Trump for the decision, describing Santos as unfairly treated. The president also compared Santos to Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, highlighting past misstatements about Blumenthal’s military record. Trump argued that Santos’s actions were minor compared with Blumenthal’s claims, while praising Santos’s consistent support for Republicans.
Before and during his time in Congress, Santos repeatedly misrepresented his background. Though he made history as the first openly LGBTQ+ Republican elected to Congress, ethics investigations revealed widespread misuse of campaign funds. These included travel, cosmetic treatments, and luxury items, which contributed to his dramatic political downfall. Despite the controversies, Santos remained a public figure and embraced media attention. On social media, he reflected on his time in politics: “From the halls of Congress to the chaos of cable news, what a ride it’s been! Was it messy? Always. Glamorous? Occasionally. Honest? I tried … most days.”
The judge in Santos’s case sided with prosecutors, citing a lack of genuine remorse as justification for the original sentence. His commutation is part of a broader pattern of high-profile clemency decisions by Trump since returning to the White House. Trump has repeatedly used presidential clemency to benefit allies. Earlier this year, he pardoned Michael Grimm, a former Republican congressman convicted of income concealment, and John Rowland, the former Connecticut governor convicted of corruption.
At the same time, Trump’s administration has pursued legal action against political critics, including former National Security Adviser John Bolton, who was recently indicted and pleaded not guilty. Trump himself was convicted of felony charges last year in a New York hush money case, which he continues to dismiss as politically motivated. George Santos’s release marks another high-profile example of Trump exercising his clemency powers, reinforcing his approach to rewarding political loyalty while sparking debate over fairness and accountability.
