Former U.S. House member George Santos was released from a New Jersey prison late Friday, merely hours after Donald Trump commuted his sentence of seven years and three months for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Santos’s attorney, Joseph Murray, expressed gratitude toward Trump in an X post, referring to him as “the greatest president in US history,” and stating, “God bless President Donald J. Trump!”
Murray further credited the efforts of several Republican figures, including U.S. House members Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, and Anna Paulina Luna, alongside former congressman Matt Gaetz and officials from the justice department and bureau of prisons, for their advocacy on Santos’s behalf. Greene, in particular, was noted for her passionate support, as well as maintaining that Santos was unjustly treated.
According to Long Island’s South Shore Press, Santos was reportedly on a computer when inmates shouted that he was “on TV.” He initially ignored the commotion until he finally saw a news crawl stating, “Santos Sentence Commuted,” leading to his release at 11:30 PM. Just days prior to his release, Santos had appealed for Trump’s intervention in an open letter, expressing his desire for a chance to move forward after acknowledging his mistakes.
Describing the conditions at Fairton federal prison as incomprehensible for most Americans, Santos conveyed to Trump in his letter that he is a “lifelong Republican” who has always supported the president. Trump’s announcement of the commutation on Truth Social included remarks about Santos being somewhat of a “rogue,” asserting that such rogues should not face disproportionately harsh sentences.
The decision to commute Santos’s sentence is expected to reignite discussions surrounding the extent of presidential powers, especially as many Americans plan to participate in “No Kings” demonstrations nationwide, protesting against perceived authoritarian governance.
While Santos’s release has garnered praise from some party members, it has also drawn criticism across the political spectrum. Democratic candidate Robert Zimmerman, who lost to Santos in 2022, inferred that Santos might ultimately find his way into Trump’s administration. Zimmerman criticized the commutation, linking it to a broader narrative of lawlessness attributed to the Trump administration. House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries labeled Santos a “serial fraudster,” while Republican Adam Kinzinger described the commutation as indicative of corruption.
Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, who experienced a similar fate when his federal corruption conviction was commuted and later pardoned by Trump, voiced support for the decision, asserting that Trump made the right choice.
As Santos adjusts to life outside prison, Murray indicated that he is currently “decompressing” from what has been described as a traumatic experience during his incarceration.