‘Repentance is an understatement; it’s like I have been dealt a second chance,’ the former lawmaker said.
Former congressman George Santos expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump for commuting his seven-year prison sentence and said he plans to devote his second chance to reforming U.S. prisons.
The former New York legislator was released from prison on Oct. 17 after serving less than three months for wire fraud and identity theft. His release came just hours after Trump announced a sentence commutation for him that day.
In an interview with Fox News that aired Oct. 19, Santos said he has no immediate plans to run for Congress but did not rule out a return. The 37-year-old said he spoke to Trump after his release.
“When I spoke to President Trump yesterday, I told him my commitment would be to prison reform,” Santos said.
The former lawmaker noted that he wants to help those “drowned with this arbitrary sentencing style of judges who were trying to circumvent the First Step Act,” legislation. Trump signed the act into law during his first term in 2018, aiming to reform the federal prison system and reduce recidivism among prisoners.
In a statement posted on social media, Santos stated that his goal is to reform the justice system into one “that truly believes in rehabilitation and second chances.”
Yesterday, I was given something I never thought I’d have again: a true second chance at life. A chance to grow, to change, and to walk a better path.
— George Santos (@MrSantosNY) October 18, 2025
First and foremost, I want to thank our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for never abandoning me. I’m far from perfect. I’ve made…
Santos also told Fox News that he understands some may view his commutation as an escape from punishment for his offenses, but added that he isn’t getting away with anything and has much to prove with his second chance.
“I understand people want to make this into a ‘he’s getting away with it’. I’m not getting away with it. I was the first person to ever go to federal prison for this type of civil FEC [federal election commission] violation. These are usually solved in penalties,” he said.
“And I don’t want to focus on trying to rehash the past, and want to take the experience and do good and move on with the future. Repentance is an understatement; it’s like I have been dealt a second chance.”
Santos said he had no further restitution or probation following his release.
