US President Donald Trump commuted the prison sentence of former Rep. George Santos, who was convicted of fraud and identity theft, and ordered his immediate release.
What did George Santos do?
Expelled from Congress after a short and controversial term, Santos has admitted to exaggerating fundraising totals and fabricating donor identities to gain GOP financial support for the 2022 election.
He was elected that year as a Republican to represent parts of New York and its eastern suburbs, Reuters reported.
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During his campaign, Santos falsely claimed that he attended New York University, worked at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, and that his grandparents fled the Nazis during World War II.
In April of this year, he was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison and began his sentence in July.
Trump commutes Santos
Trump said on Friday that Santos had been “horribly mistreated” in prison.
“George Santos was a ‘scoundrel’ to some degree, but there are many scoundrels throughout our country who are not forced to serve seven years in prison,” Trump said on Truth Social. “That’s why I just signed the amendment and IMMEDIATELY released George Santos from prison,” he added.
Santos has spent much of his 11-month term in Congress embroiled in scandal, estranged from his colleagues and the subject of mockery from late-night comedians after it emerged he had fabricated several aspects of his personal background, Reuters reported.
Earlier this week, he posted what he called an “impassioned plea to President Trump,” praising him and asking for “an opportunity to return to my family, friends and community.”
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He admitted the mistakes and said he faced the consequences and took full responsibility.
Who is George Santos?
The 37-year-old former New York representative began serving a prison sentence in July after being sentenced in April to seven years and three months for, among other things, stealing the identities of campaign donors and misusing their credit cards.
A congressional ethics investigation revealed that he spent the stolen funds on Botox treatments, the adult site OnlyFans, luxury Italian goods and vacations to places like the Hamptons and Las Vegas.
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Santos’ outlandish biographical fabrications included claims that he worked for Goldman Sachs, was Jewish, and was a college volleyball star.
He was expelled from the House in 2023, a year after being elected to office, becoming only the third person to be expelled as a US legislator since the Civil War, a censure previously reserved for traitors and convicted felons.
(With inputs from Reuters)
