Former Republican congressman George Santos has been released from federal prison after having his sentence commuted by President Donald Trump on Friday evening.
The president announced the move on his Truth Social platform, calling the former U.S. representative from New York a “rogue” who nevertheless did not deserve his criminal punishment for fraud and identity theft.
“There are many rogues throughout our Country that aren’t forced to serve seven years in prison,” said Trump, who compared Santos to Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, who has been criticized in the past for misrepresenting his military service.
“This is far worse than what George Santos did, and at least Santos had the Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN!”
In April, Santos was sentenced to 87 months in prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, to which he pleaded guilty last August. The charges stemmed from his fabrication of his background during his congressional campaigns, including a successful bid for New York’s 3rd congressional district in 2022.
Santos’ various concoctions included his ethnicity—now claiming to be an Afro-Latino Catholic, he previously represented himself as Jewish—as well as his education, job history, wealth, and business ventures.
Local and federal investigations ensued, leading to his indictment and his expulsion from the House of Representatives in December 2023. Federal agents discovered his use of falsified documents for unemployment benefits, misuse of campaign funds, falsified finance reports, and fraudulent use of campaign donors’ credit cards.
Santos reported to prison in July, and his time in custody soon made headlines due to his alleged mistreatment at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fairton, New Jersey, where he was reportedly placed in solitary confinement for his own safety. In an September op-ed published in The South Shore Press, Santos described squalid conditions, limited access to showers, and an overall “slow-motion form of torture.”
“What I am enduring is not just my story,” he wrote, “it is the story of countless others across this nation whose voices are silenced behind bars.”
In response to an inquiry from Black Catholic Messenger, an official with the Federal Bureau of Prisons declined to comment on any alleged mistreatment of Santos—instead noting that all inmates at FCI are fed adequately and provided air conditioning.
Trump cited Santos’ complaints in his announcement of the commutation, which does not clear Santos’ record but reduces his sentence to time served.
“George has been in solitary confinement for long stretches of time and, by all accounts, has been horribly mistreated,” wrote the president. “Good luck George, have a great life!”
While Santos has not yet commented publicly on his release—which took place late Friday night—his attorney, Joseph Murray, was effusive in praise for President Trump after news broke of the commutation.
“God bless President Donald J Trump the greatest President in U.S. history!” Murray said in a statement shared on Santos’ Twitter/X account.
“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”
God bless President Donald J Trump the greatest President in U.S. history! 🇺🇸
— George Santos (@MrSantosNY) October 18, 2025
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…
Nate Tinner-Williams is co-founder and editor of Black Catholic Messenger.
