The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org. October 20, 2025 Trump Commutes Sentence of Former Republican Congressman George Santos ---------------------------------------------------------------------- President Trump commuted the seven-year sentence of former Republican Congressmember George Santos. Santos was expelled from Congress in 2023 and pleaded guilty earlier this year to wire fraud and identity theft, including lying to Congress, stealing money from campaign donors and fraudulently collecting unemployment benefits. Trump's decision to commute Santos prompted outrage from other lawmakers, including Republicans. New York Republican Congressmember Nick La Lota wrote on X, "George Santos didn't merely lie - he stole millions, defrauded an election, and his crimes (for which he pled guilty) warrant more than a three-month sentence." In one of his first interviews since being released, Santos said he was now free to get botox. .