A new plea has emerged in the case of George Santos, the former congressman who was recently imprisoned for fraud.
According to the Daily Mail, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has formally urged President Donald Trump to pardon Santos, who was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and identity theft charges. The Georgia lawmaker's appeal comes after Santos released an emotional letter from prison describing his difficult conditions.
In a letter addressed to the Justice Department, Greene claimed Santos's sentence "extends far beyond what is warranted" and called for clemency consideration. She emphasized that other lawmakers who have "done far worse still walk free" while Santos has "taken responsibility" and "shown remorse."
Santos, who began his prison sentence less than two weeks ago, detailed his challenging experience at Federal Correctional Institution Fairton in New Jersey in a letter penned on Monday.
The 37-year-old former congressman described breaking down in tears after putting on a "fluorescent yellow jumpsuit that made me feel like a caution sign in human form." He particularly lamented the bathroom conditions, comparing them to "an abandoned gym locker room from a forgotten high school - grim, damp, smelling of mildew and regret."
Santos's emotional appeal highlighted the reality of his new circumstances as he began serving his 86-month sentence. The former representative was convicted following revelations that he fabricated thousands of dollars in campaign finance records during his successful 2022 congressional bid.
Greene's request comes at an interesting time in her relationship with the Trump administration and GOP leadership.
The timing is notable as Greene has recently fallen out of Trump's inner circle. Earlier this week, she told the Daily Mail that she believes the Republican Party has "turned its back on America First and the workers and just regular Americans," suggesting a growing distance between her and party leadership.
While maintaining her loyalty to Trump, Greene has diverged from the administration on key issues, particularly regarding Gaza, where she has characterized Israel's actions as "genocide." She has also recently demanded that the Department of Justice release all files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
President Trump has not ruled out pardoning Santos, though his comments suggest some hesitation.
When asked about a potential pardon during a Newsmax interview last week, Trump acknowledged that Santos "did lie like hell" during his congressional tenure. However, he also praised the former lawmaker because his "vote was solid" for Republicans, adding that "he was 100 percent for Trump."
The president indicated that no one has directly approached him about pardoning Santos, though Santos has previously stated that he requested clemency consideration from the White House. Trump's history of providing pardons to loyal supporters suggests the possibility remains open.
Before his legal troubles culminated in a prison sentence, Santos became notorious for fabricating details about his background, including false claims about his education, employment history, and personal wealth.
A House Ethics Committee report found that he had misused campaign funds for personal expenses, including Botox treatments, casino trips, and luxury shopping.
In December 2023, Santos became only the sixth lawmaker in history to be expelled from Congress. Notably, his expulsion occurred before his criminal conviction, making him the only member ever removed without having been convicted of a crime at the time of expulsion.
