President Donald Trump announced on October 17, 2025, that he has commuted the prison sentence of former New York Republican Representative George Santos. Santos, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, had been serving more than seven years behind bars since July 2025. The move releases him immediately, drawing comparisons from Trump to past misstatements by Senator Richard Blumenthal.
George Santos, a disgraced former U.S. Representative from New York, was elected in 2020 and sworn into Congress in 2022 despite early reports of fabricated details about his education, employment, and upbringing. His tenure ended abruptly in December 2023 when the House voted 311-114 to expel him—the first such expulsion without a criminal conviction and only the sixth in history. At the time, Santos faced 23 federal charges related to campaign finance violations.
In 2024, Santos pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors described his actions as a 'mountain of lies, theft, and fraud' aimed at enriching himself and deceiving donors. He began serving his 87-month sentence in July 2025 at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fairton, New Jersey, posting a theatrical farewell on X: 'Well, darlings… The curtain falls, the spotlight dims, and the rhinestones are packed.'
On October 17, 2025, President Trump, in his second term, announced the commutation via Truth Social. 'George Santos was somewhat of a "rogue," but there are many rogues throughout our Country that aren't forced to serve seven years in prison,' Trump wrote. He added that Santos had endured solitary confinement and mistreatment, prompting the immediate release: 'Therefore, I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY.'
Trump justified the decision by comparing Santos' actions to Senator Richard Blumenthal's admitted misstatements about his Vietnam service over 15 years ago. 'This is far worse than what George Santos did, and at least Santos had the Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN!' Trump stated. He concluded, 'Good luck George, have a great life!'
This action aligns with Trump's pattern of high-profile clemency in his second term, including a blanket pardon for over 1,500 individuals charged in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. During his first term, he commuted the 14-year sentence of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich for corruption.