Former Rep. George Santos released from prison after Trump commutes his sentence

CNN Disgraced former Rep George Santos who had been serving a seven-year term for the fraud charges that got him ousted from Congress was disclosed from prison on Friday night after President Donald Trump commuted his sentence his lawyer tells CNN Trump first informed the commutation on Truth Social on Friday evening and according to attorney Joseph Murray Santos family picked him up from the prison about five hours later George Santos was somewhat of a rogue but there are several rogues throughout our Country that aren t forced to serve seven years in prison the president wrote on Truth Social George has been in solitary confinement for long stretches of time and by all accounts has been horribly mistreated Therefore I just signed a Commutation releasing George Santos from prison STRAIGHTAWAY Good luck George have a great life Trump added Trump s commutation comes just months after Santos surrendered on July to serve months in prison Before he surrendered Santos advised Saudi outlet Al Arabiya English that he sought Trump for a pardon but considered he got stonewalled I don t think it made it to the president Santos commented of his pardon request at the time Unfortunately gatekeepers have blockaded for it to ever get to the president But even from behind bars Santos continued to make his event According to his verified X page he wrote an open letter to Trump earlier this week pleading for fairness while also saying he takes full responsibility for his actions Mr President I am not asking for sympathy I am asking for fairness for the chance to rebuild I know I have made mistakes in my past I have faced my share of consequences and I take full responsibility for my actions But no man no matter his flaws deserves to be lost in the system forgotten and unseen enduring punishment far beyond what justice requires Santos wrote in the letter published in The South Shore Press The law firm that represented Santos celebrated the president s move telling CNN We applaud the President for correcting this injustice Murray posted on X a message on behalf of Santos thanking GOP Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene -who he announced fought like a lion for him as well as Lauren Boebert Anna Paulina Luna and former Congressman Matt Gaetz whom he described as in regular contact Santos also expressed gratitude to the greatest DOJ group ever assembled specifically naming Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche Associated Deputy AG Diego Pestana and US Pardon Attorney Ed Martin among other Martin wrote on X he was honored to have played a small role in Trump granting clemency to Santos and thanked the president for making clemency great again Meanwhile the commutation drew mixed reaction from lawmakers Taylor Greene who wrote a letter to Trump in August asking him to commute Santos sentence also thanked the president in a post on X adding that Santos was unfairly treated and put in solitary confinement which is torture House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries however slammed Trump for focusing on Santos instead of Americans medical care an issue at the center of the ongoing leadership shutdown Donald Trump has time to free serial fraudster George Santos from prison But he can t be bothered to address the Republican healthcare emergency crushing working class Americans Jeffries explained in a post on X In August the former congressman pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and wire fraud charges stemming from activity during his midterm campaign I deeply regret my conduct Santos stated in court at that time I accept full responsibility for my actions Santos was expelled from Congress in December before completing a full term in the US House becoming only the sixth lawmaker ever to be expelled from the chamber During his short time in Congress reports emerged of Santos having fabricated parts of his biography including his employment history and learning He eventually admitted to doing that Santos represented parts of Long Island and Queens and attempted to run in another New York district before pleading guilty Santos had been serving out his sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fairton in southern New Jersey per the federal Bureau of Prisons