President Trump slashed former GOP Rep. George Santos’ seven-year prison sentence on Friday, blasting the Bureau of Prisons for ‘horrible’ mistreatment and arguing that Santos’ lies were nothing compared to those of Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).
Tears streamed down 36-year-old George Santos’ face as he faced sentencing on April 25, pleading guilty to federal wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Three months later, on July 25, he reported to FCI Fairton in New Jersey to begin his seven-year term.
Santos has since dished to The South Shore Press about life behind bars — slamming the “fluorescent yellow, state-issued polyester” jumpsuits, the moldy walls, and the broken AC units that made prison feel like hell.
The scandal-plagued ex-congressman and notorious liar got slammed with almost ten years in prison. Bloomberg via Getty Images
In August 2024, the disgraced Long Island politician admitted to scamming donors to his 2022 House campaign — even using the names of friends and family to fake a longer list of supporters.
“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,” Trump said on Truth Social as he flew from Washington to his Mar-a-Lago resort. “I started to think about George when the subject of Democrat Senator Richard ‘Da Nang Dick’ Blumenthal came up again.”
“As everyone remembers, ‘Da Nang’ stated for almost twenty years that he was a proud Vietnam Veteran, having endured the worst of the War, watching the Wounded and Dead as he raced up the hills and down the valleys, blood streaming from his face,” the president went on. “He was ‘a Great Hero,’ he would leak to any and all who would listen — And then it happened! He was a COMPLETE AND TOTAL FRAUD.”
“He never went to Vietnam, he never saw Vietnam, he never experienced the Battles there, or anywhere else. His War Hero status, and even minimal service in our Military, was totally and completely MADE UP,” Trump added.
George Santos shared a quick hug with a supporter before heading into FCI Fairton to start his prison stint. ABC6 Philadelphia
“This is far worse than what George Santos did, and at least Santos had the Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN!”
During his guilty plea, Santos confessed that he and campaign treasurer Nancy Marks — who also admitted to fraud — faked donor records, using friends’ and relatives’ names to pad their numbers and fool federal regulators.
He blew some of his ill-gotten cash on OnlyFans, Botox, and indulgent spa treatments — a lavish spree fueled by fraud.
The ex-GOP congressman faked his résumé and personal achievements — and when paired with the fraud allegations, it got him kicked out of Congress in December 2023.
“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,” Trump said on Truth Social on Friday. AP
Santos spun a web of lies: he said he graduated from NYU and Baruch College — the latter on a volleyball scholarship — held jobs at Citigroup and Goldman Sachs, and even claimed Jewish ancestry.
“I never claimed to be Jewish,” Santos came clean to The Post in December 2022. “I am Catholic. Because I learned my maternal family had a Jewish background I said I was ‘Jew-ish.’”
Santos made history — as only the sixth member ever kicked out of the U.S. House while still serving.
Blumenthal once falsely claimed he served in Vietnam at a 2008 event — only to backtrack in a statement to the Hartford Courant when the comment resurfaced during his 2010 Senate run.
“George has been in solitary confinement for long stretches of time and, by all accounts, has been horribly mistreated. Therefore, I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY. Good luck George, have a great life!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. Getty Images
“At times when I have sought to honor veterans, I have not been as clear or precise as I should have been about my service in the Marine Corps Reserves,” the Connecticut Democrat said at the time.
“I have firmly and clearly expressed regret and taken responsibility for my words,” added Blumenthal. “I have made mistakes and I am sorry. I truly regret offending anyone.”
In 2008, Blumenthal had claimed: “We have learned something very important since the days that I served in Vietnam … whatever we think about the war, whatever we call it — Afghanistan or Iraq — we owe our military men and women unconditional support.”
The senator, in office since January 2011, did serve in the Marine Corps Reserve during Vietnam — though he was never sent into combat.
The Bureau of Prisons has yet to comment, and no release date has been announced for Santos.
