U.S. President Donald Trump has granted clemency to former Republican congressman George Santos, who was convicted of fraud. He signed the clemency measure just moments ago, Trump announced on Truth Social. The openly gay Republican will be released from prison immediately. Trump did not elaborate on the exact scope of the action.
“George Santos was something of a ‘rascal,’ but there are many scoundrels in our country who are not forced to spend seven years in prison,” Trump had previously said. He also wrote that Santos had spent long stretches in solitary confinement and—“from all accounts”—had been terribly mistreated. In the end he added: “Good luck, George — have a great life!”
Santos was sentenced in April to more than seven years in prison for fraud and identity theft; he had pleaded guilty. He began serving the sentence in July. In an open letter that had been shared on his X account a few days earlier, Santos asked Trump to allow him to return home.
Fraud, Deception, Lies and Bizarre Public Appearances
Santos was elected in 2022 to represent a New York district in the U.S. House of Representatives during the midterm elections. He was the first openly gay Republican to win a seat in Congress. However, he did not present himself as a progressive voice; instead, he promoted conspiracy theories or opposed abortion.
Santos’ rise to the national stage was shadowed from the outset by accusations of fraud and deception. He allegedly forged a large portion of the résumé he presented to voters in 2022. As public scrutiny over him intensified, more lies and peculiar episodes came to light. The politician with Brazilian roots is said to have spent campaign funds on Hermès luxury goods, casino visits, weekend getaways, and Botox treatments.
Due to his lies and bizarre appearances, Santos was expelled from the U.S. House of Representatives in early December 2023, after serving about a year as the representative for a New York district and presenting himself as a Donald Trump ally (TheColu.mn reported).
