Former Congressman George Santos has been released from prison after President Donald Trump commuted his sentence, a decision that has drawn criticism from several New York Republicans. The announcement, made on Trump’s Truth Social account, came after Santos had served only three months of a seven-year sentence for fraud and theft. According to Gothamist, Rep. Nick LaLota stated that Santos “didn’t merely lie — he stole millions, defrauded an election, and his crimes (for which he pled guilty) warrant more than a three-month sentence.”
Following his release, Santos expressed gratitude on social media, thanking President Trump and referencing his faith. As reported by the New York Post, Santos described his release as a second chance at life and said he plans to focus on prison reform. He also claimed he had been mistreated by prison officials.
Some members of New York’s GOP delegation criticized Trump’s decision. Rep. Andrew Garbarino acknowledged the president’s authority to commute sentences but noted that "the victims of [Santos’] crimes still have not been made whole.” Rep. Nicole Malliotakis called Santos a convicted con artist and said she disagreed with the commutation, Gothamist reported.
In his announcement, Trump described Santos as “somewhat of a rogue” but argued that his punishment was too severe. He added that Santos had shown loyalty to the Republican Party, as noted by the New York Post.
Santos has said he intends to advocate for criminal justice reform following his release, while reactions to Trump’s decision continue to divide both lawmakers and the public.
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