George Santos Reflects on Prison Experience After Trump's Clemency

Mon Oct 20 2025 11:46:32 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Former Rep. George Santos shares insights from his time in prison following President Trump's clemency, addressing criticisms and future intentions.

Freed from prison after serving just 84 days of his sentence, former U.S. Rep. George Santos expressed humility from his time behind bars. Santos, whose misleading political persona led to severe legal consequences, was granted clemency by President Trump, which has sparked controversy. In a recent CNN interview, he acknowledged his mistakes, expressed a desire to make amends, but also highlighted his lack of commitment to repay defrauded campaign donors unless legally obligated.

NEW YORK (RTW News) — Former U.S. Representative George Santos, who recently gained his freedom after receiving clemency from President Donald Trump, has spoken out about his time in prison, expressing feelings of humility and resilience despite the backlash surrounding his early release.

In an interview on CNN’s State of the Union, Santos stated, I had a very large slice of humble pie, if not the whole pie while serving his sentence for fraud and identity theft. He added, If President Trump had pardoned Jesus Christ off the cross, he would have had critics, calling out the dissatisfaction from some Republican circles regarding his commutation.

Santos, known for fabricating elements of his professional background, pleaded guilty last year and began serving a seven-year sentence. However, he was released after just 84 days following Trump's intervention, which the former president justified by suggesting that Santos deserved another chance.

Despite admitting to his transgressions and offering apologies to his former constituents, Santos's remarks about repaying defrauded campaign donors have raised eyebrows. When asked if he would repay the approximately $373,750 owed, he responded, If it’s required of me by the law, yes. If it’s not, then no, signaling a lack of commitment to restitution unless mandated.

During his time in prison, he reached out directly to Trump for help, citing loyalty to the Republican Party, and expressed surprise at his clemency, having learned of it from fellow inmates. As Santos navigates life post-incarceration, he also noted a resurgence in selling personalized videos on Cameo, indicating a potential shift towards rebuilding his image and connecting with the public.

The controversy surrounding Santos remains heated, especially as he continues to face criticism for his actions in Congress, where he became infamous not only for his fraudulent activities but also for becoming the sixth individual expelled from the legislative body.