Former New York Representative George Santos promised on Wednesday to repay victims of his fraud, shortly after President Trump commuted his prison sentence, which had begun three months prior.
In a discussion with NewsNation’s “Cuomo,” Santos pointed out that while the clemency order releases him from restitution obligations, his legal team is exploring options to address this responsibility.
When asked if he believes he should repay those affected, Santos responded, “Morally, it’s the right thing to do. My legal team is trying to find a way to handle it. It’s not as simple as saying, ‘Here’s a check.’ We need proper ways to do this.” He added, “When I can afford it, I’ll make it happen. I’ve already committed to it.”
Santos emphasized, “I’m looking into this. My lawyers are brainstorming and figuring out legal avenues for us to proceed.”
The former representative stated he views repayment as a necessary step to move past previous disputes and to correct his past mistakes. “I don’t have to do it, but I want to because it’s how we clear the air and move forward,” he mentioned on Wednesday.
He also promised to announce when he accomplishes the repayment, making it clear to everyone that he is fulfilling this obligation. “We don’t have to do this, but we want to do the right thing, and this is a good start to show that my actions now reflect a change from the past,” he noted.
Santos was freed after Trump signed a commutation of his previously set 87-month sentence. This came after Santos requested clemency while in prison.
The clemency order, revealed on Monday, not only released him but also exempted him from repaying the $370,000 in restitution mandated by the court.
In a separate interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Santos mentioned it was uncertain whether he would still be responsible for restitution since the order hadn’t been publicly revealed. He indicated he would comply only if legally required.
Host Dana Bash remarked, “This is about fines and repaying money. Whether you see these folks as victims or just contributors, the court said they should get reimbursed. Why not make an effort?”
Santos replied, “Well, I’m bound by whatever the law states, but I’m not sure what that entails.”
He acknowledged that he was speaking openly just days after his release and wanted to avoid any confusion.
Initially, Santos pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, leading to his seven-year prison sentence. Following revelations about extensive fabrications in his resume and inaccuracies in campaign finance reports, he was expelled from Congress in 2023.
