NEW YORK (AP) — Former U.S. Representative George Santos emerged from prison reflecting on his experience, claiming to be humbled after just 84 days behind bars for defrauding campaign donors. Santos is vocal about his lack of concern for critics expressing outrage over President Donald Trump's decision to grant him clemency.
In a recent interview on CNN, Santos attempted to downplay the criticism. He cheekily stated, “I’m pretty confident if President Trump pardoned Jesus Christ off the cross, he would have had critics.”
Having pleaded guilty to fraud and identity theft, Santos served a fraction of his 7-year sentence before Trump intervened, citing his loyalty to the Republican cause.
During his time on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Santos shared, “I had a very large slice of humble pie, if not the whole pie,” indicating profound personal insights gained through incarceration.
Santos also apologized to his former constituents, admitting he was engulfed in chaos. He disclosed that he deceived multiple donors and even stole from family members.
Defending Trump’s actions, Santos argued against the criticisms, comparing his situation to President Joe Biden's pardoning of his son, Hunter, for gun offenses. He dismissed the backlash, stating, “pardon me if I’m not paying too much attention to the pearl-clutching of the outrage of my critics.”
While Santos was ordered to pay substantial restitution as part of his plea agreement, it remains unclear if Trump’s clemency absolves him of these financial obligations. When pressed about repaying the donors he defrauded, Santos remarked he would do so only if mandated by law.
Santos expressed surprise upon learning of his commutation, as he expected no such reprieve. His background is marked by exaggerations about his life, notably concerning his education and employment history.
Having been expelled from Congress due to his fabrications, Santos has ventured into new territory, generating income from selling custom videos on Cameo, which he resumed shortly after his release.
