RespawnRanger
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US President Donald Trump has commuted the sentence of George Santos, a former Republican congressman serving seven years in prison for fraud and identity theft. In a post on social media, Trump said Santos "has been horribly mistreated", adding: "Therefore, I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY. Good luck George, have a great life!"
The former lawmaker was only the sixth in US history to be expelled from Congress, after a damning ethics report in 2023. Santos, who admitted to stealing the identities of 11 people, including his own family members, was released on Friday night, US media reported.
He served less than three months of a seven-year sentence. "God bless President Donald J Trump," said one of Santos's lawyers, Joseph Murray, following Trump's announcement.
Santos's downfall began in 2022, after the New York Times published an investigation revealing the freshman congressman had lied about his CV, including having a university degree and working for Citigroup and Goldman Sachs. From there, the lies continued to pile up, including allegations that he stole money from a fundraiser for a dying dog and that he lied about his mother surviving the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
A report from the House ethics panel accused him of misusing campaign funds for personal benefits, including Botox and subscriptions on the OnlyFans website. Santos defeated a Democratic incumbent in 2022, flipping the district that encompasses parts of New York's Long Island and Queens, where he grew up.
Earlier this week, Santos published an open letter to Trump in the South Shore Press newspaper in Long Island, repeating his plea to be pardoned. The letter, which was titled a "passionate plea to President Trump" asked for "the opportunity to return to my family, my friends, and my community."
Santos began serving his sentence in July at a minimum-security jail in New Jersey. Trump has issued pardons to at least two other former Republican lawmakers since returning to office in January.
In May, he pardoned former congressman Michael Grimm, who pleaded guilty in 2014 to tax crimes. He also pardoned former Connecticut Governor John Rowland, who pleaded guilty in 2004 to corruption and fraud charges. Commutations do not void criminal convictions, unlike a pardon.
The former lawmaker was only the sixth in US history to be expelled from Congress, after a damning ethics report in 2023. Santos, who admitted to stealing the identities of 11 people, including his own family members, was released on Friday night, US media reported.
He served less than three months of a seven-year sentence. "God bless President Donald J Trump," said one of Santos's lawyers, Joseph Murray, following Trump's announcement.
Santos's downfall began in 2022, after the New York Times published an investigation revealing the freshman congressman had lied about his CV, including having a university degree and working for Citigroup and Goldman Sachs. From there, the lies continued to pile up, including allegations that he stole money from a fundraiser for a dying dog and that he lied about his mother surviving the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
A report from the House ethics panel accused him of misusing campaign funds for personal benefits, including Botox and subscriptions on the OnlyFans website. Santos defeated a Democratic incumbent in 2022, flipping the district that encompasses parts of New York's Long Island and Queens, where he grew up.
Earlier this week, Santos published an open letter to Trump in the South Shore Press newspaper in Long Island, repeating his plea to be pardoned. The letter, which was titled a "passionate plea to President Trump" asked for "the opportunity to return to my family, my friends, and my community."
Santos began serving his sentence in July at a minimum-security jail in New Jersey. Trump has issued pardons to at least two other former Republican lawmakers since returning to office in January.
In May, he pardoned former congressman Michael Grimm, who pleaded guilty in 2014 to tax crimes. He also pardoned former Connecticut Governor John Rowland, who pleaded guilty in 2004 to corruption and fraud charges. Commutations do not void criminal convictions, unlike a pardon.