Trump Commutes Seven-Year Sentence of Disgraced Ex-Congressman George Santos

Washington D.C. – Former President Donald Trump on Friday, October 17, 2025, commuted the prison sentence of George Santos, the former Republican congressman from New York who was serving over seven years for wire fraud and identity theft. Santos, who had been expelled from Congress in 2023, was released from federal prison after serving less than three months of his sentence.

President Trump announced the clemency via social media, stating that Santos "has been horribly mistreated" and adding, "Therefore, I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY. Good luck George, have a great life!" This action follows Santos's sentencing in April 2025, where he pleaded guilty to charges including wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Santos's conviction stemmed from a series of fabrications about his background and the misuse of campaign funds, which led to his expulsion from the House of Representatives, making him only the sixth member in U.S. history to be ousted. Prosecutors had argued that the former lawmaker lied about his resume and diverted campaign donations for personal use, including luxury items and subscriptions.

The commutation has drawn strong reactions, with critics pointing to Trump's history of granting clemency to political allies. While a commutation reduces a sentence, it does not void the criminal conviction, unlike a full pardon. Legal experts noted that Santos had agreed to pay significant restitution as part of his plea deal, which the commutation order also appeared to clear.

This decision marks the latest in a series of clemency actions by President Trump, who has previously pardoned other Republican figures convicted of various crimes. The former president's social media post also contrasted Santos with Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, whom Trump accused of fabricating military service, suggesting a political motivation behind the commutation.