Former U.S. Rep. George Santos, freed from prison after President Donald Trump commuted his seven-year sentence, asserted in a Sunday television interview that his prosecution was politically motivated while acknowledging he consumed a ‘very large slice of humble pie’ during his brief incarceration. Santos made these remarks on CNN’s ‘State of the Union,’ reflecting on his 84 days in federal prison for fraud and identity theft convictions, marking his first public comments since his release.
Santos expressed a sense of humility from his prison experience, stating he had ‘learned a great deal’ and consumed ‘a very large slice of humble pie, if not the entire pie.’ He apologized to his former constituents in New York’s congressional district, describing himself as being ‘in a chaotic ball of flame’ when he committed the crimes that led to his downfall. The former congressman admitted to deceiving campaign donors and stealing the identities of 11 people, including family members, as part of a guilty plea last year, underscoring the personal toll of his actions.
Despite his expressions of contrition, Santos remained defiant toward critics of Trump’s clemency decision, comparing it to President Joe Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter for gun and tax crimes. ‘I’m pretty confident if President Trump had pardoned Jesus Christ off the cross, he would have had critics,’ Santos remarked, dismissing what he called the ‘pearl clutching’ of those upset by his early release. He emphasized that other presidential acts of clemency had been worse, though he did not specify further examples, highlighting the polarized reactions to his freedom.
Santos had been serving a seven-year sentence since July at a New Jersey prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts of fraud and identity theft. Trump ordered his release on Friday, citing Santos’s loyalty to the Republican Party and describing him as a ‘rogue’ who didn’t deserve such a harsh punishment. The commutation came just 84 days into his sentence, far short of the full term he was originally facing for his crimes, which involved misusing campaign funds and fabricating aspects of his background.
When questioned about whether he intended to repay the campaign donors he defrauded, Santos gave a conditional response. ‘If it’s required of me by the law, yes. If it’s not, then no,’ he said, indicating he might not voluntarily make restitution despite having agreed to pay $373,750 in restitution and forfeit $205,003 as part of his plea deal. Trump’s clemency order appeared to nullify these financial obligations, though legal experts noted this aspect might face challenges in court, adding uncertainty to the resolution for victims.
Santos revealed that he learned of his commutation from fellow inmates who saw the news on television, having no prior expectation despite directly appealing to Trump for help in a letter published days earlier. He cited his loyalty to the president’s agenda and the Republican Party in that appeal, which was made public on October 13 in The South Shore Press. His release marked a sudden reversal of fortune for the disgraced politician, who had faced widespread condemnation for his actions.
The interview highlighted the bizarre trajectory of Santos’s political career, which began to unravel weeks after his 2022 election when revelations emerged that he had invented much of his life story. He had falsely claimed to be a successful Wall Street dealmaker, a Baruch College graduate, and a volleyball star, among other fabrications. In reality, he struggled financially, worked for a company accused of running a Ponzi scheme, and faced eviction before his election, painting a picture of a man grappling with personal and professional instability.
Looking ahead, Santos indicated he has been granted a second chance and intends to ‘make amends,’ though he provided few specifics on how he would do so. He returned to the Cameo platform on Sunday, where he had previously earned hundreds of thousands of dollars selling personalized videos after becoming just the sixth person expelled from the U.S. House of Representatives. His future plans remain uncertain, but his immediate focus appears to be on rebuilding his life outside prison walls, with potential legal and financial hurdles still looming.