Former Congressman George Santos returned home this weekend after spending just under three months in a federal prison in New Jersey, where he had been serving a seven-year sentence for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft before President Donald Trump commuted his sentence Friday night.

Santos, 37, had pleaded guilty earlier this year to defrauding campaign donors, lying to Congress, and misusing political funds for personal expenses — crimes that ended his brief and scandal-plagued political career.

While his attorney said Santos was not taking media interviews, the former congressman posted a lengthy message on X (formerly Twitter) expressing gratitude toward Trump and reflecting on his release.

“Yesterday I was given something I never thought I’d have again — a true second chance at life,” Santos wrote. “I’m far from perfect. I’ve made mistakes, I’ve stumbled. I carry shame, I carry purpose. My goal now is to turn my past into something meaningful — to help create a justice system that truly believes in rehabilitation.”

He also praised Trump for his “kindness, humility, and generosity,” adding that the former president had reminded him “that in this country we love so much, no mistake, no hardship, and no fall from grace can take away the possibility of renewal.”

Trump’s decision to commute Santos’ sentence drew mixed reactions, particularly in New York’s 3rd Congressional District, which Santos represented before being expelled from Congress.

“It’s a slap in the face to the people he defrauded,” said Jody Kass Finkel, a local constituent. “Many of the donors in our district are embarrassed they gave him money — but have any of them been made whole?”

The commutation came just days after Santos penned an open letter to Trump from prison, praising the president’s leadership and loyalty to conservative causes. Trump later described Santos as “somewhat of a rogue” but said he possessed the “courage, conviction, and intelligence to always vote Republican.”

Once a rising Republican figure, Santos’ short stint in Congress was marked by controversy and deceit. His conviction on fraud and identity theft charges capped months of scandal over fabricated personal and professional claims, from his background to his finances.

Now free, Santos says he plans to focus on “redemption and reform.” But for many in his former district, his release — after serving less than three months of a seven-year sentence — has reopened old wounds and renewed questions about accountability in American politics.