‘Naked Corruption’: The Internet Explodes Over Trump’s Santos Commutation
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On Friday evening, President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he’d freed former Congressman George Santos (R-NY), ending his seven-year sentence just six months after it started.
Trump wrote:
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. 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. 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. This is far worse than what George Santos did, and at least Santos had the Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN! 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!
X was obviously teeming with reactions, from both sides of the aisle. Democratic influencer Harry Sisson called Trump “the pro-crime president” and his administration “openly corrupt.”
Far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer praised the decision, adding, “George was treated very unfairly!”
Representative Don Beyer (D-VA) noted that Santos pled guilty to both identity theft and wire fraud, calling the decision “naked corruption.”
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) wrote, “THANK YOU President Trump,” after authoring a letter advocating for Santos’ freedom in August. She called his conditions, in solitary confinement, “torture!!”
Independent reporter Jamie Dupree, who covers Washington, DC, reminded folks that Santos is “the 10th GOP Congressman to get a pardon or clemency from President Trump.”
Former Democratic National Convention field director Adam Parkhomenko also chimed in, stressing that “Trump has pardoned pedophiles, cop-beaters, woman-beaters and George Santos.”
