President Donald Trump on Friday ordered the immediate commutation of former U.S. Representative George Santos’ seven-year prison sentence for fraud and identity theft, sparking a wave of criticism over what opponents called preferential treatment for a disgraced political ally.

Santos, expelled from Congress in 2023 and convicted of 23 felony counts—including wire fraud, identity theft, and campaign finance violations—had been serving his sentence at Federal Correctional Institution Fairton in New Jersey since July. His crimes included misusing campaign funds for personal expenses such as cosmetic procedures and adult content subscriptions.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump defended the decision, calling Santos’ punishment “overly harsh” and wishing him “a great life.” He drew comparisons to Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal’s past misstatements about military service, reigniting a decades-old controversy as justification for clemency.

The commutation does not erase Santos’ conviction but ends his prison term. It follows a personal appeal from Santos, who wrote an open letter to Trump earlier this week expressing remorse and requesting a second chance. “I cannot rewrite the past, but I can control the road ahead,” Santos said during his sentencing in April.

Santos’ attorney, Joseph Murray, welcomed the move, stating, “The sentence was far too long for the offenses committed.”

The decision adds to Trump’s growing list of clemency actions, including earlier pardons for former Representative Michael Grimm and ex-Connecticut Governor John Rowland. Critics, however, have accused the president of using executive mercy to reward political allies. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned the commutation as “a grave injustice,” while Blumenthal dismissed Trump’s remarks as political deflection.

Santos’ release reignites debate over the boundaries of presidential clemency and the ethical standards expected of public officials.