Trump Commutes Former Congressman George Santos’s Prison Sentence, Orders Immediate Release

Last Updated:October 18, 2025, 17:26 IST

Santos’s brief tenure in Congress was marked by controversy, isolation from his colleagues, and constant media scrutiny.

Santos was elected in 2022 to represent parts of New York City (Reuters image)

US President Donald Trump has commuted the prison sentence of George Santos, the disgraced ex-Congressman from New York who was serving more than seven years for fraud and identity theft. The decision, announced on Friday, orders Santos’s immediate release from federal custody.

Santos, who was expelled from Congress after a short but scandal-filled term, had pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including inflating fundraising totals and falsifying donor information to gain Republican Party support during the 2022 election campaign. Despite his criminal record, Trump described Santos as having been “horribly mistreated" and said his punishment was excessive.

“George Santos was somewhat of a ‘rogue,’ but there are many rogues throughout our country who aren’t forced to serve seven years in prison," Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social. “Therefore, I just signed a commutation, releasing George Santos from prison IMMEDIATELY."

The former Congressman was sentenced in April 2025 to 87 months in federal prison and began serving his term in July. His release comes just months into that sentence.

Santos’s political rise and fall drew national attention. He was elected in 2022 to represent parts of New York City and Long Island as a Republican. However, soon after taking office, reports surfaced that much of his personal and professional background had been fabricated. Santos falsely claimed to have studied at New York University, worked at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, and said his grandparents had fled the Nazis during World War II — all of which were later proven untrue.

His brief tenure in Congress was marked by controversy, isolation from his colleagues, and constant media scrutiny. Comedians and commentators turned him into a symbol of political deceit.

Earlier this week, Santos released what he called a “passionate plea" to President Trump, praising him and asking for clemency. In the message, he admitted to making mistakes and said he had taken full responsibility for his actions while expressing hope for a chance to rebuild his life.

Trump’s decision is part of his wider use of clemency powers since returning to office. The U.S. Constitution allows the president to issue pardons or commute sentences for federal crimes.

Since beginning his second term, Trump has granted several high-profile clemencies. On his first day back in office, he pardoned about 1,500 people charged in the January 6 Capitol riot. He has also extended clemency to figures from both political parties, including former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, ex-Representative Michael Grimm, and former Connecticut Governor John Rowland.

With Santos’s release, Trump again demonstrated his willingness to intervene in politically charged cases, drawing both praise and criticism across the political spectrum.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Anushka Vats

Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can follow her...Read More

Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can follow her...

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News world Trump Commutes Former Congressman George Santos’s Prison Sentence, Orders Immediate Release

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