Former New York representative George Santos continues to make his own history, of course, as the first out LGBTQ+ Republican ever elected to Congress. He was released from jail Saturday afternoon. His early release was made possible when President Donald Trump commuted his sentence for federal fraud charges. Santos had been completing his seven-year, three-month prison sentence after being found guilty of false business record charges.
Santos’s legal woes began when he was accused of cheating Richard Osthoff. Osthoff, a veteran, initially raised $3,000 through GoFundMe in 2016 to save his dying service dog, Sapphire. Osthoff’s claims, Santos pocketed the money and Sapphire eventually died after the misappropriated funds ran out. Here’s what Osthoff had to say about Santos’s villainous deeds — in his own words — as he opened up about feeling betrayed.
“I was really just sick to my stomach for the president of the United States to stick me in the gut with a knife.” – Richard Osthoff
In a text message responding to Semafor’s inquiry, Santos denied any wrongdoing, calling any adverse stories about his activities “shocking and insane.” Even as Osthoff’s allegation was a game-changer that led to Santos’ political career and personal integrity hanging by a thread. Upon his release, Santos quickly rebounded back onto the Cameo platform. There, he records personalized video messages, looking forward to being able to relate to the public one on one again.
Santos’ conviction for fraud is hardly surprising. He pleaded guilty to agreeing to pay almost $375,000 in restitution and $205,000 in forfeiture. His prison sentence came after being convicted of dozens of counts of financial wrongdoing. That raised deep and abiding questions about his character and motives while in office.
Osthoff, who has been a vocal critic of Trump’s decision to commute Santos’s sentence, said she is heartbroken and disappointed by the political environment. He commented on the shame he felt as an American for what has happened to our country.
“It’s shameful and a disgrace – and I’m almost ashamed that I served my country now. This is not the country I raised my hand [to serve].” – Richard Osthoff
Santos’s case isn’t just about one individual, but emblematic of larger issues surrounding accountability and ethics in politics. His actions have sparked intense debate about trust in elected officials and the consequences for those who betray that trust. Trump’s term “suckers and losers” was allegedly used to describe doubters of his administration. This simple phrase reveals 2 important truths about the fraught relationship between political leaders and the people they serve.
Since his release, Santos has repeatedly claimed he thinks his sentence was disproportionate to what he did. He has positioned himself as a victim of an unjust system, a narrative that may resonate with some supporters while alienating others who view his actions as indefensible.