NEW YORK — George Santos is a free man.<\/p>\n
The disgraced former congressman and convicted fraudster was released from a federal prison in New Jersey on Friday night after President Donald Trump signed a commutation of his sentence. A vehicle with New York plates was seen leaving the prison just after 10 p.m.<\/p>\n
Santos, 37, was less than three months into serving a seven-year sentence in federal prison<\/a> after being convicted of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.<\/a><\/p>\n In a social media post, Trump said Santos, who he called “somewhat of a ‘rogue,'” had the “Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN!”<\/p>\n “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, IMMEDIATELY. Good luck George, have a great life!” Trump said.<\/p>\n The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, which successfully prosecuted Santos, had no comment.<\/p>\n Santos pleaded guilty to a series of fraud crimes and was sentenced in April to 87 months in prison — the maximum he faced.<\/p>\n The commutation comes days after the South Shore Press published<\/a> a “passionate plea” by Santos from prison to Trump, in which he expressed his support and asked that the president “allow me the opportunity to return to my family, my friends, and my community.”<\/p>\n “During my short tenure in Congress, I stood firmly behind your agenda — 100% of the time,” Santos wrote in the letter, published Monday. “I championed policies that strengthened our economy, defended our borders, and restored America’s standing on the world stage. I did it proudly, Sir, because I believed — and still believe — in the mission you set out to accomplish for the American people.”<\/p>\n Santos’ attorney Joseph Murray released a statement in part saying, “God bless President Donald J Trump the greatest President in U.S. history!President Trump is absolutely right when he says that the U.S. is back! As a retired NYPD police officer having experienced first hand the typical government dysfunction and red-tape, I am absolutely amazed to see how functional, efficient, and cooperatively this administration works together to get the job done, especially with their legislative counterparts.”<\/p>\n Some constituents in Santos’ former district are reacting to his sentence commutation and release with dismay.<\/p>\n “What is the message that this tells young people? What does it tell other members of Congress?” said Jody Kass Finkel of Concerned Citizens of NY-03. “We were the victims of his crimes. We the people in NY-03, 780,000-some odd people, we were without representation. We were the laughingstock of the country.”<\/p>\n This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.<\/p>\n * Get Eyewitness News Delivered<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n * Follow us on YouTube<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n * More local news<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n * Send us a news tip<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n