Photo: Alamy
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., on Monday called on the Trump administration to commute the seven-year prison sentence of former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., who is serving time for wire fraud and identity theft.
Santos began his sentence in late July after receiving an 87-month prison term in April. He was expelled from the House of Representatives in December 2023, becoming the first member in history to be removed from office before a criminal conviction.
“I just sent a letter to the Office of the Pardon Attorney urging President Trump to commute the sentence of former Congressman George Santos,” Greene posted on X. “A 7-year prison sentence for campaign-related charges is excessive, especially when Members of Congress who’ve done far worse still walk free.”
“George Santos has taken responsibility. He’s shown remorse. It’s time to correct this injustice,” she added. “We must demand equal justice under the law!”
Greene, who had been one of Santos’ strongest allies during his time in Congress, was among the most vocal opponents of his expulsion.
Attached to her post was the full letter addressed to Pardon Attorney Ed Martin. In it, Greene argued that Santos’ sentence amounted to judicial overreach and called the punishment disproportionate compared to the lack of consequences faced by other lawmakers.
“While his crimes warrant punishment, many of my colleagues who I serve with have committed far worse offenses than Mr. Santos yet have faced zero criminal charges,” Greene wrote.
“I strongly believe in accountability for one’s actions, but I believe the sentencing of Mr. Santos is an abusive overreach by the judicial system,” Greene added.
Greene also noted that she had spoken with a religious leader close to Santos who affirmed his remorse and supported the request for a reduced sentence.
Santo spoke with host Piers Morgan in May about his hope to gain clemency or commutation following his guilty verdict.
“I’ll take a commutation, clemency, whatever the president is willing to give me,” Santos told Morgan. “Seven years and three months in prison for a first-time offender over campaign matters just screams ‘over the top,’ and I would appreciate if the president would consider.”
“I do believe this is an unfair judgment handed down to me,” Santos said in a report from Just the News. “I think there was a lot of politicization over the process.”
