Former Rep. George Santos walked out of federal prison recently with a cross in his hand, a few rosary beads in the other, and the blessing of none other than President Donald J. Trump, as Fox News reports.

Trump commuted Santos’ seven-year federal sentence for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, ending the ex-congressman’s prison term and launching an immediate media flurry where Santos credited divine intervention and the former president for his freedom.

Santos had been serving his time in New Jersey after a spectacular political downfall and a historic expulsion from Congress in 2023. He admitted to fabricating multiple aspects of his biography while being investigated for financial misconduct.

Solitary Confinement and a Spiritual Turnaround

Trump defended his clemency decision through a post on Truth Social, writing that Santos “was somewhat of a ‘rogue,’ but there are many rogues throughout our Country that aren’t forced to serve seven years in prison.” That’s Trump-speak for what many Americans feel: selective justice is still justice denied.

The former lawmaker’s prison time included over a month—41 days, to be exact—in solitary confinement. Santos described it as a grueling ordeal, further alleging that during this period, he was denied access to a Bible and a rosary. That’s not just a procedural oversight; it’s a human rights misstep wrapped in bureaucracy.

Still, out of this darkness, Santos claims he found clarity. “I connected with God, I reconnected myself, I started praying in such a profound way,” he said, pointing to his rediscovered faith as the catalyst for what he now sees as a new chapter in his life.

Weekly Mass and an Unexpected Break

According to Santos, a Catholic priest visited the facility weekly on Thursdays to offer Mass. “Starting the moment I got into prison, I discovered there’s this visiting priest who comes,” he explained during a recent interview.

Regularly attending services, receiving the Eucharist, and even going to confession became cornerstones of his prison routine. The day before news of his sentence commutation arrived, Santos said he had attended a particularly meaningful Mass—calling it a turning point.

“100% the day before,” he noted, referring to the timing of his release and the spiritual experience shared with fellow inmates. If redemption arcs seem out of style, this one is a throwback with a few holy bells and whistles attached.

Reframing the Narrative With New Priorities

Upon his release, Santos appeared on "Fox & Friends Weekend" where he made a clear promise to the man who gave him a second shot. “I have a lot to prove to a lot of people, and I have to make sure President Trump understands that I am not going to disappoint him,” he said.

Time will tell if the former Congressman-turned-federal inmate can live up to that promise. But Santos isn’t making vague pledges—he has a focus: criminal justice reform. He disclosed that during a conversation with Trump, he committed to improving conditions within the U.S. prison system.

“When I spoke to President Trump yesterday, I told him my commitment would be to prison reform,” Santos said. Coming from someone who lived in solitary with no spiritual resources, it’s a position he can speak on without a briefing memo.

Mistreatment Allegations Spark Broader Questions

Trump emphasized that Santos had been “horribly mistreated,” citing his extended time in solitary confinement as excessive punishment. On Truth Social, the president wrote that he had “just signed a Commutation,” citing fairness and compassion as motives.

These claims of mistreatment aren’t shocking to those who have seen how unevenly the system is enforced, especially for political figures fallen from grace. Whether or not you believe Santos earned his time behind bars, 41 days in a cell alone without access to religious items isn’t “equal justice” under any handbook.

Now out and vocal, Santos seems intent on proving he’s not just trading one narrative for another. Whether he’s capable of meaningful reform advocacy remains to be seen.

From Infamy to Influence Again?

Santos isn't asking the public to forget his past, but he’s clearly betting that Trump’s support—and maybe divine forgiveness—will help him chart a politically redemptive course. Whether the public is willing to accept that remains an open question, but his commitment to taking on a system he now knows personally might hit home with many disenchanted conservatives.

With this surprise twist, Santos becomes one of the few disgraced public officials to walk straight out of prison into the arms of political relevance, with a renewed mission and backing from the most influential figure in the GOP.

As long as the redemption arc stays grounded in truth and action, maybe this once-embellished life story has a second chapter worth telling—and watching.