Jorge Santos says prison sentence was ‘disproportionate’ but ‘a big slice of humble pie’ | George Santos
Former US Congressman George Santos said on Sunday that his prison sentence was “disproportionate” but he got a “very big slice of the humble pie”, as he slammed 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 has been “completely politicized,” and called for his former campaign staffer, Sam Milley, to also get commutation.
“It’s not about … the glitz and the stars and the glamor or getting back to Congress,” he said. “This is a very personal journey and path forward for me.”
Trump announced Friday that he had commuted the sentence of Santos, who was supposed to serve more than seven years in federal prison in New Jersey after a whirlwind political career tainted by serial slander and fraudulent schemes.
“I just signed a commutation agreement to release George Santos from prison immediately,” Trump said in a lengthy post on Truth Social. “Good luck George, have a great life!”
Santos, who pleaded guilty last year to fraud and identity theft charges, served less than three months in prison before being released. He said Trump’s decision to commute his sentence came as a surprise.
“I had no expectations, and I wasn’t aware of it until I found out about it through the mainstream media inside the prison myself,” he said. “Other inmates saw it and contacted me.”
Bash pressed Santos on whether he had received preferential treatment as a “loyal ally” of the president.
Santos responded sarcastically, saying: “There are many people who were upset with President Biden, who pardoned his entire family before leaving office in an unprecedented step.” “Excuse me if I don’t care much about my critics’ charms.”
Trump has issued several pardons and commutations during his second term so far, starting with a “full, complete and unconditional” presidential pardon for about 1,500 people who participated in the January 6 attack on Congress.
And in February he rose Sorry Former Illinois Governor 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 the plea deal, Santos agreed to pay approximately $375,000 in restitution and $205,000 in forfeiture. When asked in his State of the Union address if he planned to pay the restitution, he said if it were “I am required by law.”
He said, looking frustrated, “I have been out of prison for two days. I have agreed to come here to talk to you openly and frankly and not to be obfuscating.” “If the law requires me to do so, then yes. If not, then no. I will do whatever the law requires of me.”
In a separate appearance on Fox & Friends Weekend earlier Sunday, Santos said he no longer had to pay damages and thanked Trump, praising him for having “such an incredible will to have second chances.”
Returning to CNN, he said he was confident that “if President Trump had pardoned Jesus Christ from the cross, he would have critics. This is the reality of our country.”