George Santos says prison sentence was ‘disproportionate’ but ‘large slice of humble pie’ | George Santos
Disgraced former US congressman George Santos said Sunday that his prison sentence was “disproportionate” but that he received “a very large piece of the modest pie”, while lashing out at his critics in his first interview since Donald Trump commuted his sentence.
Speaking to Dana Bash on CNN’s State of the Union, Santos said he was “completely out of politics” and demanded that his former campaign aide, Sam Miele, also receive a commutation.
“It’s not about the glitz, the stars, the glamor or returning to Congress,” he said. “It’s a very personal journey and path for me.”
Trump announced Friday that he had commuted the sentence of Santos, who was set to serve more than seven years in a federal prison in New Jersey after a whirlwind political career marred by serial fabrications and fraudulent schemes.
“I just signed a commutation, releasing George Santos from prison IMMEDIATELY,” Trump said in a lengthy Truth Social article. “Good luck George, have a great life!”
Santos, who pleaded guilty last year to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, had been serving his sentence for less than three months before being released. He said Trump’s decision to commute his sentence came as a surprise.
“I had no expectations, I wasn’t even aware of it until I found out about it myself through the mainstream media inside the prison,” he said. “Other inmates saw it and called me.”
Bash asked Santos if he had received favorable treatment as a “staunch ally” of the president.
“A lot of people were upset that President Biden pardoned his entire family before leaving office, in an unprecedented move,” Santos responded jokingly. “Forgive me if I don’t pay too much attention to the outrage of my critics.”
Trump has issued several pardons and commutations in his second term so far, starting with “full, complete and unconditional” presidential pardons for about 1,500 people involved in the Jan. 6 attack on Congress.
In February, he pardoned former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was convicted of corruption crimes, including trying to sell a U.S. Senate seat vacated by former President Barack Obama.
As part of his plea deal, Santos agreed to pay nearly $375,000 in restitution and $205,000 in forfeiture. When asked on the State of the Union whether he planned to repay the restitution, he said whether it was “required by law.”
“I have been out of prison for two days. I agreed to come here to speak to you frankly and openly and without wanting to conceal,” he declared, visibly frustrated. “If the law requires it, yes. If it doesn’t, then no. I will do whatever the law requires.”
In a separate appearance on Fox & Friends Weekend earlier Sunday, Santos said he no longer had to pay restitution and thanked Trump, praising him for having “such an incredible willingness to give second chances.”
Back on CNN, he added that he was convinced that “if President Trump had forgiven Jesus Christ on the cross, he would have had criticism. That’s just the reality of our country.”
