President Donald Trump has commuted the prison sentence of former Representative George Santos, releasing the New York Republican three months after he began serving time for federal fraud and identity theft convictions.

The announcement, made on Friday on Trump’s Truth Social account, brought an abrupt end to Santos’s seven-year term imposed last year after he admitted to defrauding campaign donors and misusing political contributions. “George Santos was somewhat of a rogue, but there are many rogues throughout our Country that aren’t forced to serve seven years in prison,” Trump wrote. He added that Santos had been “horribly mistreated” and held in solitary confinement “for long stretches of time,” before authorizing his immediate release.

Santos, 37, had been incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fairton, New Jersey. Federal prosecutors described his actions as a broad scheme of deception and self-enrichment, saying he diverted campaign money for personal expenses while misleading supporters about his background.

The former lawmaker, who represented parts of Long Island and Queens, rose to national prominence after reports revealed he had fabricated large portions of his personal and professional history, including his education and employment record. Despite those findings, he took office in January 2023. Less than a year later, the House of Representatives voted 311 to 114 to remove him from office, making him the sixth member in U.S. history to be expelled and the first without a criminal conviction at the time.

Facing 23 charges, Santos later pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. During sentencing, he expressed remorse and told the court he “deeply regretted” his conduct, adding that he accepted full responsibility for his actions.

In the week leading up to the commutation, Santos publicly appealed to the president for clemency. In an open letter published in The South Shore Press, he acknowledged his past wrongdoing but asked for “fairness” and the chance to rebuild his life. His legal team later commended Trump’s intervention, calling the decision “a restoration of justice” for their client.

The commutation prompted strong reactions from lawmakers across party lines. Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene thanked Trump for what she described as an act of compassion, claiming Santos had been subjected to “unjust” conditions in custody. Democratic leaders were quick to denounce the decision. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized Trump for focusing on Santos’ release instead of addressing health care concerns during the ongoing government shutdown.

Trump defended the action by comparing Santos’ case to a past controversy involving Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, who once misstated details about his military service. Trump argued that Blumenthal’s conduct was “far worse” and praised Santos for his loyalty to the Republican Party.

The decision adds to a growing list of high-profile clemency actions taken during Trump’s second term. Earlier this year, he granted pardons to more than 1,500 individuals charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The president has also issued commutations to several political allies, following a pattern established during his first term when he reduced the sentence of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, convicted of corruption-related crimes.

Under the U.S. Constitution, the president holds broad authority to grant pardons and commutations for federal offenses. While a pardon erases a conviction, a commutation ends or shortens a sentence without overturning the underlying verdict.