Trump Commutes Sentence of Former Congressman Santos
President Donald Trump has announced that he has commuted the sentence of former New York Congressman George Santos, who has been serving an 87-month sentence since July.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump referred to Santos, who began serving his time in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in August 2024, as somewhat of a “rogue.” He also remarked on Senator Richard Blumenthal’s (D-Conn.) claim of being a Vietnam veteran, despite the senator never having served in Vietnam.
“I just signed a commutation of sentence for the immediate release of George Santos,” Trump stated. “Good luck George, have a great life!”
In his message, Trump elaborated on Santos’s character, saying he was “a thug in some ways,” but suggested that many others deserving of similar treatment exist within the country. He reflected on Santos after the topic of Sen. Blumenthal resurfaced, recalling that Blumenthal has made claims about his war experiences for nearly two decades.
Back in April, a judge sentenced Santos, a former Republican lawmaker, to over seven years in prison, alongside an order for him to pay more than $373,000 in restitution and undergo two years of supervised release.
Trump further commented:
He was a “great hero,” always proclaiming it. Yet, the reality is he was a complete fraud. He never set foot in Vietnam and experienced no combat anywhere. His assertions of being a war hero are utterly fabricated. This is far worse than what Santos has done, but at least Santos has often shown the courage and intelligence to support Republican values. George has endured lengthy periods of solitary confinement and severe mistreatment. Thus, I signed a commutation of sentence to release him immediately. Good luck, George, have a great life!
Previously, Trump has called for an investigation into Blumenthal regarding claims that he “lied” about his military service in Vietnam. In response, Blumenthal has dismissed these allegations as “completely deceptive and distorted.”
