October 17, 2025
Trump commutes George Santos's fraud sentence after 12 weeks in prison
Former congressman released after 12 weeks following campaign pressure
👨‍⚖️Judicial Review🏛️Government
On Oct. 17, 2025, President Trump signed a commutation releasing former U.S. Representative George Santos from Federal Correctional Institution Fairton in New Jersey. Santos had served only 12 weeks of his 87-month sentence for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. His family picked him up from the facility the same night around 11 p.m.
Santos pleaded guilty to 23 counts in 2024 and was sentenced on Apr. 25, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert to 87 months in prison. Prosecutors showed Santos had stolen money from campaign donors, filed false loan applications, and committed fraud. The commutation did not reduce the $373,949 in restitution Santos owed to fraud victims.
Trump announced the commutation on Truth Social, writing that Santos was somewhat of a rogue but many rogues throughout our Country aren't forced to serve seven years in prison. Trump claimed Santos had been placed in solitary confinement for long stretches and horribly mistreated. Trump did not claim Santos was innocent or that legal errors occurred in his trial.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that Santos had the Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN. Trump cited Santos' congressional votes despite his expulsion and conviction. Trump also compared Santos to Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, referencing Blumenthal's 2010 statements about military service.
Santos was expelled from the House of Representatives on Dec. 1, 2023, after a House Ethics Committee investigation concluded he likely broke federal law. He was the sixth representative ever expelled and the first expelled for corruption since 1861. Before his expulsion, Santos admitted to lying about his education, employment, and military family background.
Representative 
Marjorie Taylor Greene publicly campaigned for Santos' commutation weeks before Trump signed it. Greene thanked Trump immediately after the announcement. White House officials said they received overwhelming pressure from Trump allies urging him to commute Santos' sentence.
In his first term, Trump pardoned Steve Bannon (convicted of wire fraud and money laundering in 2022), Paul Manafort (convicted of tax evasion, fraud, and conspiracy), and Roger Stone (convicted of lying to Congress and witness tampering). Trump also commuted the sentence of Michael Flynn, his former National Security Advisor, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. All four were Trump allies connected to his 2016 campaign or business operations.
In his first term (2017-2021), Trump pardoned Steve Bannon on Jan. 20, 2021 (his last day in office) for wire fraud and money laundering charges from the We Build the Wall crowdfunding scheme. Trump pardoned Paul Manafort on Dec. 23, 2020 for tax evasion, bank fraud, and conspiracy related to his Ukraine work. Trump commuted Roger Stone's sentence in Jul. 2020 and gave him a full pardon on Dec. 23, 2020 after Stone was convicted of lying to Congress, witness tampering, and obstruction. Trump pardoned Michael Flynn on Nov. 25, 2020, who had pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. All four were Trump allies pardoned or commuted before Trump left office.
👨‍⚖️Judicial Review🏛️Government
Test Your Knowledge
2
Q1
Trump wrote on Truth Social that Santos had the "Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN." Trump's clemency grant eliminated Santos's $373,949 restitution obligation to fraud victims—donors Santos stole from using their credit cards without permission. What does Trump's explicit citation of Santos's party loyalty as justification tell you about the criteria Trump uses to determine who deserves clemency?
Q2
Santos was ordered to pay $373,949 in restitution to donors he defrauded. Trump's commutation eliminated this requirement. Santos told Fox News he has "no restitution" and told CNN he would only pay "if it's required of me by the law." Who loses when Trump eliminates restitution obligations?
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Start QuizPeople, bills, and sources
Donald Trump
President of the United States
George Santos
Former U.S. Representative (R-NY), convicted fraudster
Judge Joanna Seybert
U.S. District Judge who sentenced Santos
Marjorie Taylor Greene
U.S. Representative (R-GA)
Richard Blumenthal
U.S. Senator (D-CT)
House Ethics Committee
Congressional committee that investigated Santos
Joseph Murray
Santos's attorney
House Democrats and Republicans who voted to expel Santos
Members of Congress
What you can do
1
tracking
Track Trump commutation patterns by party affiliation
Monitor Department of Justice Pardon Office announcements at justice.gov. Document each commutation Trump grants during his second term and note the party affiliation of the recipient. Create a spreadsheet comparing Republicans vs. Democrats receiving commutations. Share data with local media.
2
civic action
Demand restitution enforcement despite commutation
Contact the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York. Demand they enforce the $373,949 restitution order against Santos. Commutation reduces prison time, not restitution. File a complaint if USAO drops collections efforts.
3
tracking
File FOIA for Trump's commutation decision memo
Request via foia.gov the White House and DOJ memos documenting Trump's reasoning for Santos commutation. Specifically request emails between Trump office and Santos's attorneys. Document whether clemency decisions follow legal criteria or political loyalty.
4
civic action
Monitor Senate Judiciary Committee for campaign finance law enforcement
Contact your senator on Senate Judiciary Committee. Ask whether Santos commutation signals Trump will decline to prosecute campaign finance crimes. Request hearing on whether commutation undermines campaign finance law enforcement. Reference the $373,949 restitution still owed.
5
civic action
Support campaign finance reform organizations
Donate to Campaign Legal Center (campaignlegalcenter.org) and Common Cause (commoncause.org). These organizations pursue enforcement of campaign finance law and transparency. Your support helps counter the signal sent by commuting a campaign fraud conviction.