Trump to commute George Santos’ prison sentence for fraud

Former US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he intends to commute the prison sentence of former Republican Representative George Santos, who was serving time for fraud and identity theft.

In a post on social media, Trump acknowledged that Santos “made mistakes” but praised him as a staunch supporter of the Republican Party. He also highlighted concerns raised by Santos’ family and friends regarding the former lawmaker’s treatment in prison.

“George Santos was somewhat of a ‘rogue,’ but there are many rogues throughout our Country that aren’t forced to serve seven years in prison,” Trump wrote. “At least Santos had the Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN!”

Trump further criticized Santos’ time in isolation, describing him as having been “horribly mistreated” and kept in solitary confinement for long stretches.

Santos, who gained national attention after flipping New York’s 3rd Congressional District from Democratic to Republican control in the 2022 elections, became known as one of the first openly gay Republicans elected to the House of Representatives. However, investigations revealed that Santos had fabricated significant parts of his personal and professional background.

By December 2022, investigators were delving into Santos’ business dealings. A congressional committee later found that he had violated federal law, deceived campaign donors, and misappropriated funds. The House of Representatives voted to expel him, ending his term less than a year after he took office.

In 2024, Santos reached a plea deal with prosecutors to avoid a trial and was sentenced in April for misleading donors and defrauding 11 individuals, including members of his own family. Santos and his supporters have argued that his punishment was politically motivated and have repeatedly appealed to Trump for intervention.

Trump has a history of using his presidential pardon powers on political allies, most controversially pardoning nearly all individuals charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. Santos’ campaign for clemency echoes this pattern, emphasizing his loyalty to Trump and the Republican Party.

Santos’ supporters have also drawn attention to his solitary confinement, which critics argue constitutes “cruel and unusual punishment” due to its known links to mental health issues and heightened suicide risk. Since his incarceration at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fairton, New Jersey, on July 25, Santos has written several columns describing his experiences and appealing for mercy.

“I am not asking for special treatment. I am asking to be treated as a person – with attention, dignity, and the care any human deserves when in distress,” Santos wrote in one column. “And yes, I renew my plea to President Trump: intervene. Help me escape this daily torment and let me return to my family.”

With Trump’s announcement, Santos could see a significant reduction in his prison sentence, continuing the former president’s trend of intervening on behalf of allies and supporters.