Disgraced Rep George Santos 'Decompressing' After 'Traumatic Experience' In Prison

Disgraced former U.S. Representative George Santos was released from federal prison late Friday evening after President Donald Trump commuted his lengthy sentence for fraud and identity theft.

His legal team has asked for privacy, decrying how he endured a "traumatic experience" in the 3 months he was behind bars.

After Donald Trump told George Santos to "have a great life," some criticized the move, saying it is "not justice" for the lying politician to serve just a few months of his long sentence.

George Santos is out of prison just barely three months after he began serving his 87-month sentence for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

The 37-year-old politician has Donald Trump to thank for his freedom, as the president announced in a social media post on Friday that he had signed his commutation.

The move has prompted the former congressman's legal team to request privacy for the client, saying he's "decompressing" from the "traumatic experience" of spending time in solitary confinement, per the New York Post.

"Now is not a good time, I just got here, I'm meeting with him, and we just want to let him decompress a little bit," Santos' lawyer Joseph Murray said in a phone conversation when pressed for his client's whereabouts.

"He was released last night. Let's give him – let's respect his and his family's privacy and let them decompress a little. It's a traumatic experience as you can imagine," Murray added before hanging up the call.

Santos was sentenced in April by United States District Judge Joanna Seybert after pleading guilty to the charges he had been investigated for in August 2024.

Findings revealed he lied about graduating from Baruch College, nor was he a standout player on Manhattan College's volleyball team as he claimed.

As part of the sentence, Santos was ordered to pay $373,749.97 in restitution to his victims, but due to the terms of his commutation, he no longer needs to.

The order, signed by the President on Friday, secured his immediate release from FCI Fairton, a medium security prison in Fairfield Township, New Jersey, where he'd been held.

"God bless President Donald J Trump, the greatest President in U.S. history!" Murray wrote in a note posted on Santos' X [former Twitter] account.

Trump defended his decision to commute Santos' prison sentence, saying his crime isn't worth the punishment.

"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," the president posted on his social media platform.

He continued, "At least Santos had the courage, conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN!"

The billionaire politician then announced that he had "just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY."

"Good luck, George, have a great life!" Trump added.

Since Trump's shock move, critics have argued that the commutation undermines the judicial process, particularly given Santos's admission of guilt to defrauding donors and lying to Congress.

Republican Andrew Garbarino, who sits on the House Ethics Committee, said it is "not justice" for him to be pardoned in such a manner that saw him serve just three months for his crimes.

Republican Nick LaLota, who represents a swing district in New York, also expressed similar feelings about Trump's move, emphasizing the gravity of Santos' crimes.

LaLota stated that Santos "didn't merely lie - he stole millions, defrauded an election."

The release follows a public appeal from Santos just days prior, where he published a letter to President Trump asking for clemency and an opportunity to "return to my family, my friends, and my community."

In the letter, he described the living conditions inside the penitentiary as "unlike anything most Americans could ever comprehend."

"Today, I am asking you respectfully, earnestly, and directly for your understanding and compassion," he continued, describing himself as a "lifelong Republican and a proud believer in your America First vision" who "never wavered" when it came to supporting the president.

He then explained that since August, he'd been living in "complete isolation inside the Special Housing Unit" of the prison because of a death threat he faced.

"Life in SHU is unlike anything most Americans could ever comprehend," Santos stated. "I am locked inside a small steel cage twenty-four hours a day. My only contact with the outside world is a brief phone call to my family — once every thirty days."

He admitted that he knew he made mistakes and said he took "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," he wrote.

"Mr. President, I have nowhere else to turn," the ex-congressman penned. "With the deepest respect and gratitude, I thank you for taking the time to hear my plea."