Disgraced former US congressman George Santos said on Sunday that his prison sentence was 'disproportionate' but that he had been served 'a very large slice of humble pie', in his first interview since Donald Trump commuted his sentence. Speaking to CNN's State of the Union, Santos said he was 'all politicked out' and called for his former campaign staffer, Sam Miele, to also receive a commutation.
Trump announced on Friday that he had commuted Santos's sentence, which was meant to be more than seven years in federal prison for fraud and identity theft. Santos, who pleaded guilty last year to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, was less than three months into his sentence before being released. He said Trump's decision came as a surprise, learning about it from other inmates who saw the news on television.
When pressed on whether he received favourable treatment as a 'loyal ally' of the president, Santos deflected, pointing to President Biden's pardons of his family. As part of his plea deal, Santos had agreed to pay nearly $375,000 in restitution and $205,000 in forfeiture, but when asked if he planned to pay, he said he would only do so 'if it is required of me by the law'.
In a separate appearance on Fox & Friends Weekend, Santos said he no longer had to pay restitution and thanked Trump for his 'amazing will for second chances'. He later told CNN that 'if President Trump had pardoned Jesus Christ off the cross, he would have had critics'.
