Trump commutes sentence of former US Rep. George Santos in fraud case

Staff writers
AP
Donald Trump has commuted the sentence of Former Rep. George Santos.
Donald Trump has commuted the sentence of Former Rep. George Santos. Credit: DOUG MILLS/NYT

President Donald Trump said Friday he had commuted the sentence of former US Rep. George Santos, who is serving more than seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to fraud and identity theft charges.

The New York Republican was sentenced in April after admitting last year to deceiving donors and stealing the identities of 11 people — including his own family members — to make donations to his campaign.

“I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump posted on his social media platform.

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Santos’ defense team applauded President Trump for “doing the right thing”, Andrew Mancilla said by phone.

“The sentence was far too long.”

He added that it is unclear at this point when Santos will be released.

On Monday, Santos published what he called a “passionate plea to President Trump,” praising him and pleading for “the opportunity to return to my family, my friends, and my community.”

In an open letter published by the South Shore Press on Long Island, Santos said he had been in isolation in prison since late August while the FBI investigated a death threat against him and the experience left him “in limbo, caught between uncertainty and silence.”

“Mr. President, I am not asking for sympathy. I am asking for fairness — for the chance to rebuild,” Santos wrote.

He acknowledged making mistakes in his past and said he has faced his share of consequences and takes full responsibility, but nobody “deserves to be lost in the system, forgotten and unseen, enduring punishment far beyond what justice requires.”

“I want nothing more than to begin again — to contribute, to serve, and to rebuild my life from the ashes of my past.”

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