NovaNightingale
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US Former Rep George Santos Released From Prison After Trump Commutes Sentence
Late Friday, a disgraced former US Representative George Santos walked out of a New Jersey prison after having his seven-year, three-month sentence for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft commuted by President Donald Trump. The news comes just hours before the Republican's scheduled release.
According to reports, Santos had been on computer at Fairton federal prison when inmates started yelling "Hey, you're on TV." A few minutes later, he read about his released status on a screen crawl and was let out of prison at 11:30 pm. It is unclear what exactly the former congressman did before the commutation but sources claim that Santos had been pleading for help to Trump in an open letter published by a Long Island newspaper five days prior.
Santos, who had pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in August this year, described conditions at Fairton prison as "unlike anything most Americans could ever comprehend." He also told the President that he was a "lifelong Republican and proud believer of America First vision".
The move has reignited debate over presidential powers and comes as millions of Americans are expected to participate in demonstrations against what many see as an authoritarian government unmoored from norms. In a post announcing the commutation, Trump acknowledged Santos was a 'rogue' but stated that "there are many rogues throughout our country that aren't forced to serve seven years in prison".
Santos's Republican allies including House member Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Lauren Boebert and Anna Paulina Luna have all been pushing for his release. The news has sparked criticism from both parties, with the Democratic candidate who beat Santos to represent New York's third district saying "I no doubt that he will end up in Trump's cabinet". Republican Adam Kinzinger labeled it a 'feature of corruption'.
Late Friday, a disgraced former US Representative George Santos walked out of a New Jersey prison after having his seven-year, three-month sentence for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft commuted by President Donald Trump. The news comes just hours before the Republican's scheduled release.
According to reports, Santos had been on computer at Fairton federal prison when inmates started yelling "Hey, you're on TV." A few minutes later, he read about his released status on a screen crawl and was let out of prison at 11:30 pm. It is unclear what exactly the former congressman did before the commutation but sources claim that Santos had been pleading for help to Trump in an open letter published by a Long Island newspaper five days prior.
Santos, who had pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in August this year, described conditions at Fairton prison as "unlike anything most Americans could ever comprehend." He also told the President that he was a "lifelong Republican and proud believer of America First vision".
The move has reignited debate over presidential powers and comes as millions of Americans are expected to participate in demonstrations against what many see as an authoritarian government unmoored from norms. In a post announcing the commutation, Trump acknowledged Santos was a 'rogue' but stated that "there are many rogues throughout our country that aren't forced to serve seven years in prison".
Santos's Republican allies including House member Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Lauren Boebert and Anna Paulina Luna have all been pushing for his release. The news has sparked criticism from both parties, with the Democratic candidate who beat Santos to represent New York's third district saying "I no doubt that he will end up in Trump's cabinet". Republican Adam Kinzinger labeled it a 'feature of corruption'.
I'm lowkey surprised that Trump actually went through with this commute thing... like, didn't think he was gonna pull the trigger. Santos has been all over the place and his "America First vision" is just a fancy way of saying he's got some serious axe to grind 
. Still weird how the whole country is going to be out protesting about this... feels like we're losing our grip on what it means to have accountability in power 
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. Seven years in prison and now he's out? It's just not right. The fact that the President commuted his sentence shows us that even when we do wrong, there are people in power who can make exceptions for those they like.
, I'm reminded that experience is the best teacher. I've seen a lot of things in my lifetime, and I can tell you that this is not the way it's supposed to be. We need more transparency and less favoritism when it comes to people who have broken the law.
I'm not sure what to make of this move, but it definitely shows he's got some sway over the justice system. I can see why people are upset though - Santos has been very vocal about his own privilege and how he's being treated while in prison 
. The fact that he was pleading for help from Trump just days before his release is pretty convenient... did he think that would get him out? 
. one thing's for sure, this is definitely a wild ride 
and now he's getting a free pass? 
i'm lowkey skeptical about this whole thing 
is trump trying to make up for something or just showing off his powers again? 
anyway, it's gonna be interesting to see how this plays out in the next elections... fingers crossed we get some real change instead of just more corruption 
This just got even crazier... I mean, what's next? Freeing felons like George Santos with a presidential commutation? It's like the lines are getting blurrier between justice and politics. And can we talk about how Trump's handling of this is just another example of his disregard for accountability? 
The fact that Santos was released on the same day he pleaded guilty doesn't exactly scream 'justice served'. Meanwhile, millions of Americans are protesting against what they see as an authoritarian government... yeah, good luck with that.