Sentence Commuted

President Trump commuted the prison sentence of former Representative George Santos (R), releasing him after he served fewer than three months of a seven-year sentence for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Context

Santos was elected to Congress in 2022, representing New York's third congressional district and helping Republicans secure a narrow House majority. His career unraveled when investigations revealed he had fabricated extensive portions of his background, including claims about his education, work experience, and family history. Federal prosecutors later charged him with 23 felony crimes, including stealing identities of 11 people, misusing campaign funds for personal expenses like Botox and designer fashion, and fraudulently collecting unemployment benefits. He pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in August 2024 and began serving his sentence in July 2025 at a federal prison in New Jersey.

Commutation

On Friday, Trump announced the commutation on Truth Social, stating that Santos “has been horribly mistreated” and had been in solitary confinement for extended periods. The president acknowledged Santos was “somewhat of a 'rogue'” but argued many similar offenders do not serve seven years in prison.