US President Donald Trump has commuted the sentence of George Santos, a former Republican congressman serving seven years in prison for fraud and identity theft, ordering his immediate release.
In a post on social media, Trump said Santos 'has been horribly mistreated', adding: 'Therefore, I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY. Good luck George, have a great life!'
The former lawmaker was only the sixth in US history to be expelled from Congress, after a damning ethics report in 2023.
Santos, who admitted to stealing the identities of 11 people, including family members, is currently serving his sentence at a minimum-security jail in New Jersey.
In April, when Santos was sentenced, a judge told him: 'You got elected with your words, most of which were lies.'
He reportedly cried in court and begged for forgiveness, saying: 'I cannot rewrite the past, but I can control the road ahead.'
Prosecutors argued that the novice politician had lied about his background and misused campaign funds to finance his lifestyle.
In his post, Trump criticized Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, accusing him of fabricating his US military service, and defended Santos, stating that Santos had the 'Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN!'
A lawyer for Santos told the Associated Press that it remains unclear when his client would be released. 'The defense team applauds President Trump for doing the right thing,' said Andrew Mancilla, stating the sentence was far too long.
Santos's downfall began after the New York Times in 2022 published an investigation revealing that he had lied about his CV, which included claims of having a university degree and working for Citigroup and Goldman Sachs. Following this, allegations surged that he had stolen money from a fundraiser for a dying dog and lied about his mother surviving the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Later charged with 23 federal felony crimes, Santos was expelled from Congress in 2023 after a House ethics panel accused him of misusing campaign funds for personal benefits.
Earlier this week, Santos published an open letter to Trump, appealing for clemency. He expressed his remorse and asked for fairness to rebuild his life, stating, 'I know I have made mistakes in my past. I have faced my share of consequences, and I take full responsibility for my actions.'
Trump has granted pardons to other former Republican lawmakers since retaking office.
