3.3.1 – Formal sources of presidential power as outlined in the US Constitution and their use
In October 2025 President Donald Trump commuted the federal prison sentence of former Congressman George Santos, who had pleaded guilty in August 2024 to charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The offences related to the misuse of campaign funds, identity theft, and false statements made during his election campaign. Santos had already been expelled from the House of Representatives in December 2023 following a highly critical ethics investigation that concluded he had deceived donors and misappropriated funds for personal gain.
Trump’s decision to grant clemency came only months into Santos’s 87-month prison sentence and provoked widespread criticism. Many commentators argued that the pardon reflected political loyalty rather than a genuine correction of injustice. Santos had remained a vocal supporter of Trump throughout his legal troubles, frequently defending him on social media and attacking his critics. The episode therefore raised broader questions about the presidential power of pardon and whether it can be used to reward allies rather than uphold the principles of fairness and accountability that underpin the rule of law.