Speaker Johnson defends Trump's decision to commute Santos sentencing

House Speaker Mike Johnson on Sunday defended President Donald Trump’s decision to grant clemency to former New York Rep. George Santos, who was serving a seven-year sentence for wire fraud and identity theft.

“The president has the right in the Constitution for pardon and commutation, of course,” the Louisiana Republican told Jonathan Karl on ABC’s "The Week." "We believe in redemption. This is a personal belief of mine. And I hope Mr. Santos makes the most of his second chance.”

Santos had served less than three months of a seven-year sentence when Trump announced in a social media post that he would commute the rest of the sentence.

In an interview with CNN’s "State of the Union" on Sunday, Santos said that he learned of the president’s decision through television.

“Other inmates saw it and called me over to see it,” Santos told host Dana Bash. “I was not in the room at the time, and then I made my way to see it. I called my family and they told me it had happened, but I was not aware. It was a surprise.”

Trump’s move has been met with criticism, with some pointing to Trump applauding the former lawmaker for having the “Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN!"

Santos on Sunday dismissed the criticism, pointing to former President Joe Biden's decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden.

“Pardon me if I'm not paying too much attention to the pearl-clutching of the outrage of my critics and of the people predominantly on the left who are going to go out there and try to make a big deal out of something like this,” Santos said.

He added, “President Biden pardoned his son after he said he wouldn't. I didn't see outrage.”

In his interview with ABC on Sunday, Johnson added that Trump did not pardon Santos for his political affiliation but argued the president was being “transparent.”

“I just think he’s talking about this individual and — and his past,” Johnson said. “And at least he’s open and transparent about it.”

Still, some New York Republicans have expressed disapproval over Santos’s commutation.

Rep. Nick LaLota said Santos’ crimes “warrant more than a three-month sentence.” Rep. Andrew Garbarino, who sat on the House Ethics Committee panel that investigated Santos, said the victims of Santos’s crimes “still have not been made whole.”

Santos on Sunday declined to commit to paying back the more than $370,000 he was ordered to pay in restitution as part of his sentencing.

“I can do my best to do whatever the law requires of me. So I don't know what that is. I have been out of prison for two days,” Santos said when Bash asked if he would pay his victims. “If it's required of me by the law, yes. If it's not, then no. I will do whatever the law requires me to do.”

Santos also said he has no current plans to seek election in the future.

“I'm 37 years old. I can tell you this, not that I can see of in the next decade. I am — I'm all politicked out,” he said.