George Santos Plans Restitution Only If Legally Required After Trump Commutation

President Trump commuted the sentence of former Congressman George Santos, who had been serving over three months of a seven-year prison term for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Santos was also ordered to pay nearly $374,000 in restitution to victims, including campaign contributors whose donations were misappropriated, but Trump's commutation absolved him from paying any restitution or fines. In interviews following his release, Santos stated he would only pay restitution if legally required, with one appearance showing a defiant attitude toward repayment. The commutation document explicitly removed all legal obligations for Santos, including fines, restitution, probation, or supervised release. Santos, who was expelled from the House in 2023 after revelations about fabricating his resume and legal troubles, apologized to some party leaders but maintained he has no current legal responsibilities. The case marks a controversial chapter in Santos's political saga, with the commutation effectively ending the enforcement of his original sentence.