President Donald Trump said Friday night that he signed a commutation that will “immediately” free scandal-plagued former congressman George Santos from prison.
Santos, 37, was less than three months into a seven-year sentence in federal prison after being convicted of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Former Congressman George Santos leaves the Alfonse D’Amato Federal Courthouse after being sentenced, April 25, 2025, in Central Islip. New York.
Howard Schnapp/Newsday RM via Getty Images
In a social media post, Trump said Santos, whom he called “a little ‘rogue,'” had the “courage, conviction and intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICANS.”
“Jorge has been in solitary confinement for long periods of time and, from all indications, has been horribly mistreated. Therefore, I have just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY. “Good luck George, have a great life!” Trump said.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, which successfully prosecuted Santos, had no comment.
Santos pleaded guilty to a series of fraud offenses and was sentenced in April to 87 months in prison, the maximum he faced.
The commutation comes days after South Shore Press published a “passionate plea” from Santos from prison to Trump, in which he expressed his support and asked that the president “allow me the opportunity to return to my family, my friends and my community.”
“During my brief term in Congress, I strongly supported your agenda, 100% of the time,” Santos wrote in the letter published Monday. “I will defend policies that strengthened our economy, defended our borders, and restored America’s standing on the world stage. I did so with pride, sir, because I believed, and continue to believe, in the mission you set out to fulfill for the American people.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
