...
By Jordan King
Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Former Representative George Santos, who was jailed for fraud, has spoken out about President Donald Trump commuting his sentence, saying “the U.S. is back.”
“God bless President Donald J Trump the greatest President in U.S. history!,” Santos’ Attorney Joseph Murray posted on his client’s X account.
“President Trump is absolutely right when he says that the U.S. is back!” he said.
Read More on News
Why It Matters
Santos’ release from federal prison on Friday, following a sentence commutation by Trump, has reignited national debate over the limits of presidential clemency, and accountability for public officials convicted of serious crimes.
As only the sixth lawmaker in U.S. history to be expelled from the House of Representatives, Santos’ case has become a touchstone for conversations about justice, political intervention, and the treatment of convicted politicians.
The commutation underscores Trump’s willingness to intervene in high-profile criminal proceedings, especially those involving political allies, and has drawn sharply divided reactions from lawmakers and the public.
...
What To Know
On Friday, President Donald Trump announced the immediate commutation of Santos’s federal prison sentence.
Santos, a former congressman from New York, had pleaded guilty in August 2024 to multiple counts of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, campaign finance violations, and other financial crimes.
His conviction stemmed from a series of criminal schemes, including submitting false campaign finance documents, misusing donor identities to route funds for personal and campaign use, and providing fraudulent information to the New York State Department of Labor and the House of Representatives.
Santos was sentenced in April 2025 to 87 months in federal prison and began serving his term at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fairton, New Jersey, in July. His release came less than three months into his sentence.
A sentence commutation, unlike a presidential pardon, reduces the punishment but does not nullify the underlying conviction, meaning Santos remains a convicted felon.
Murray posted Santos’ statement on X on Friday: “God bless President Donald J Trump the greatest President in U.S. history!
“I really have to thank Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene who fought like a lion on George’s behalf. Also to Representatives Lauren Boebert and Tim and Anna Paulina Luna who have also been so very supportive. Also, Former Congressman Matt Gaetz whom I was in regular contact with, as well as the greatest DOJ team ever assembled including Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Associate Deputy Attorney General Diego Pestana, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Prisons Josh Smith, U.S. Pardon Attorney Ed Martin, Senior Advisor to the U. S. Pardon Attorney Neil McCabe! Thank you all so very much.”
“President Trump is absolutely right when he says that the U.S. is back! As a retired NYPD police officer having experienced first hand the typical government dysfunction and red-tape, I am absolutely amazed to see how functional, efficient, and cooperatively this administration works together to get the job done, especially with their legislative counterparts. If only the Democrats would rejoin “Team USA,” Murray said. “I am so proud to be an American!”
What People Are Saying
Trump previously wrote on Truth Social: "George has been in solitary confinement for long stretches of time and, by all accounts, has been horribly mistreated. Therefore, I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY. Good luck George, have a great life!”
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote on X: "THANK YOU President Trump for releasing George Santos!! He was unfairly treated and put in solitary confinement, which is torture!!"
Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries posted on X: "Donald Trump has time to free serial fraudster George Santos from prison. But he can’t be bothered to address the Republican healthcare crisis crushing working class Americans. The extremists are insulting you every single day."
What Happens Next
Santos’ commuted sentence enables his immediate release from federal custody, but it does not expunge his felony conviction or restore his civil rights. Legal analysts and political observers expect the move to generate further debate about the boundaries of presidential clemency and its use as a political tool. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have called for renewed examination of ethics safeguards for members of Congress, as well as possible reforms to congressional oversight of criminal conduct by public officials.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines