President Trump has commuted former Representative George Santos's prison sentence, citing concerns over the lawmaker's treatment while incarcerated. In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that Santos had been subjected to "horrible mistreatment" in solitary confinement and expressed his support for the disgraced politician.
Santos, 37, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The move has sparked controversy, with many questioning why Trump intervened on behalf of a lawmaker who had been embroiled in multiple scandals, including misusing campaign funds for personal expenses.
A senior White House official told NBC News that the decision was driven by "hearings from numerous individuals" in recent days, adding that it's ultimately up to Trump. Santos's lawyer described the commutation as a result of his client's "suffering" during prosecution, claiming his sentence was "draconian".
Santos had previously been elected to Congress in 2022 after flipping a Democratic seat on Long Island. However, his political career ended when the House Ethics Committee found evidence he misused campaign funds for personal reasons. He was subsequently voted out of office by the full House.
The decision has raised questions over Trump's motives and whether it represents an attempt to influence the outcome of Santos's upcoming prison sentence release.
Santos, 37, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The move has sparked controversy, with many questioning why Trump intervened on behalf of a lawmaker who had been embroiled in multiple scandals, including misusing campaign funds for personal expenses.
A senior White House official told NBC News that the decision was driven by "hearings from numerous individuals" in recent days, adding that it's ultimately up to Trump. Santos's lawyer described the commutation as a result of his client's "suffering" during prosecution, claiming his sentence was "draconian".
Santos had previously been elected to Congress in 2022 after flipping a Democratic seat on Long Island. However, his political career ended when the House Ethics Committee found evidence he misused campaign funds for personal reasons. He was subsequently voted out of office by the full House.
The decision has raised questions over Trump's motives and whether it represents an attempt to influence the outcome of Santos's upcoming prison sentence release.