US President Donald Trump commuted the sentence of George Santos, a former Republican congressman serving seven years in prison for fraud and identity theft, and ordered his immediate release.
In a social media post, Trump said Santos was “horribly mistreated,” adding: “That’s why I just signed a commutation of sentence, IMMEDIATELY releasing George Santos from prison. Good luck George, have a good life!”
The former lawmaker became the sixth in US history to be expelled from Congress following a damning ethics report in 2023.
Santos, who admitted to stealing the identities of 11 people, including members of his own family, is currently serving his sentence in a maximum security prison in New Jersey.
In April, when Santos was sentenced, the judge told him: “You were elected by your words, most of which were lies.”
He reportedly cried in court and asked for forgiveness, saying: “I can't rewrite the past, but I can control the path forward.”
Prosecutors alleged the aspiring politician lied about his past and misused campaign funds to finance his lifestyle.
In his post, Trump justified the move by criticizing Democratic lawmaker Senator Richard Blumenthal, whom he accused of fabricating his military service in the United States.
“This is much worse than what George Santos did and at least Santos had the courage, conviction and intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN!” Trump wrote.
Trump previously called for an investigation into Blumenthal over the lawsuit. The Democrat acknowledged that he made repeated mistakes while serving in the military, but noted that the incidents go back more than a decade.
“This 15-year-old charge was effectively rejected by Connecticut voters three times, overwhelmingly re-electing me,” Blumenthal told CNN earlier this month.
Santos' lawyer told The Associated Press it was unclear when his client would be released.
“The defense team applauds President Trump for doing the right thing,” Andrew Mancilla said.
“The sentence was too long.”
Santos' downfall began in 2022 after a New York Times investigation found that the freshman congressman had lied about his resume, including a college degree and jobs at Citigroup and Goldman Sachs.
After that, the lies continued to pile up, including accusations that he stole money from a fundraiser for a dying dog and that he lied about his mother surviving the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Soon after, local and federal officials began investigating.
He was ultimately charged with 23 federal felonies and in 2023 became the first member of Congress to be expelled in more than 20 years and only the sixth in history.
The House Ethics Committee report accused him of misusing campaign funds for personal gain, including Botox and a subscription to the website OnlyFans.
Santos defeated the Democratic incumbent in 2022, flipping a district that includes parts of New York's Long Island and Queens, where he grew up.
Earlier this week, Santos published an open letter to Trump in the South Shore Press on Long Island, repeating his request for a pardon.
The letter, titled “a passionate plea to President Trump,” asked for “an opportunity to return to my family, my friends and my community.”
He wrote that he was kept in solitary confinement after receiving death threats in August and apologized for his actions.
“Mr. President, I am not asking for sympathy. I ask for justice – a chance for restoration,” he wrote.
“I know I've made mistakes in the past. I have faced my share of consequences and take full responsibility for my actions.
“But no person, whatever his shortcomings, deserves to be lost in the system, forgotten and invisible, suffering punishment far beyond what justice requires.”
Trump has pardoned at least two other former Republican lawmakers since returning to office in January.
In May, he pardoned former congressman Michael Grimm, who pleaded guilty in 2014 to tax crimes.
He also pardoned former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland, who pleaded guilty in 2004 to corruption and fraud charges.
