{"id":2501149,"date":"2025-10-20T16:06:01","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T20:06:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nick-lalota-breaks-with-trump-over-santos-commutation\/"},"modified":"2025-10-20T16:07:08","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T20:07:08","slug":"nick-lalota-breaks-with-trump-over-santos-commutation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nick-lalota-breaks-with-trump-over-santos-commutation\/","title":{"rendered":"Nick LaLota breaks with Trump over Santos commutation"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnick-lalota-breaks-with-trump-over-santos-commutation%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2501149&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY) publicly disagreed with former President Donald Trump&#8217;s decision to commute the prison sentence of ex-Rep. George Santos, stating that three months served was insufficient given the extent of Santos&#8217;s crimes. Santos,who pleaded guilty in august 2024 to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >multiple felony charges <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-democratic-california-rep-tj-cox-indicted-for-fraud-faces-up-to-55-years-in-prison\/\" title=\"Former Democratic California .... TJ Cox Indicted For Fraud, Faces Up To 55 ...s In Prison\">including wire fraud<\/a><\/a> and money laundering,had his seven<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/julian-assange-to-go-free-after-striking-plea-deal-with-biden-doj\/\" title=\"Julian Assange To Go Free After Striking Plea Deal With Biden DOJ\">-year sentence commuted<\/a> by Trump after serving nearly three months. LaLota,who had previously called for Santos&#8217;s resignation following revelations that Santos had lied about his finances and campaign activities,criticized Santos as a notable distraction and condemned the misuse of campaign funds and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/paxton-opens-investigations-into-noncitizens-voting-in-texas-in-2024\/\" title=\"Paxton opens investigations into noncitizens voting in Texas in 2024\">election fraud committed<\/a> by Santos. While LaLota expressed frustration with the commutation, other republicans such as rep. Kevin Kiley and House speaker Mike Johnson supported trump&#8217;s use of clemency powers, emphasizing redemption and the president&#8217;s constitutional right to grant pardons and commutations.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Nick LaLota breaks with Trump over Santos commutation: &lsquo;Three months is not enough&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2378013\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY) said he was &ldquo;not happy&rdquo; about President Donald Trump&rsquo;s decision to grant <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3855728\/trump-commutes-rogue-ex-house-republican-george-santoss-sentence\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">clemency<\/a> to former Republican New York Rep. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/george-santos\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">George Santos<\/a> on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>LaLota was one of several congressional Republicans who first demanded Santos&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/1956985\/two-more-new-york-house-republicans-demand-rep-george-santos-resign\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">resignation<\/a> in 2023. Santos pleaded <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3126079\/george-santos-pleads-guilty-to-campaign-fraud-felonies-and-faces-years-in-jail\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">guilty<\/a> in August 2024 to several felony charges, including wire fraud and money laundering. Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3855728\/trump-commutes-rogue-ex-house-republican-george-santoss-sentence\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">commuted<\/a> Santos&rsquo;s seven-year prison <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3371354\/george-santos-7-year-prison-sentence-fraud-case\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sentence<\/a> on Friday after Santos served nearly three months in Fairton, New Jersey&rsquo;s Federal Correctional Institution.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3857352\/chip-roy-suggests-nuclear-option-end-shutdown\/\">Chip Roy becomes latest Republican to defy leadership on &lsquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/thune-finds-senate-path-to-ease-trump-nominee-logjam\/\" title=\"Thune finds Senate path to ease ... nominee logjam\">nuclear option&#038;rsquo<\/a>; to end shutdown<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3857012\/mike-johnson-democrats-taste-medicine-no-kings-rallies\/\">Mike Johnson gives Democrats a taste of their own medicine after &#8216;No Kings&#8217; rallies<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3856857\/watch-live-hakeem-jeffries-press-conference-government-shutdown-third-longest-in-history\/\">WATCH LIVE: Jeffries holds press conference as shutdown becomes third-longest in history<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;Three months is not enough of a sentence for all the crimes he committed. George Santos was and is a distraction from serious lawmakers,&rdquo; LaLota said in an <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/mkraju\/status\/1980247161138032911\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">interview<\/a> with CNN&rsquo;s Manu Raju.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY) speaks during a news conference, July 14, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. LaLota is the Republican candidate in New York&rsquo;s 1st District. (AP Photo\/Patrick Semansky, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Following accusations that he lied to his constituents about his personal finances, campaign contributions, and campaign supporters, Santos was expelled from the House of Representatives in December 2023 after less than a year.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s not only a liar, but he stole. He stole $3 million in campaign funds from many of my constituents, many of my supporters who got built by him and his lies. He stole an election, defrauded voters of New York&rsquo;s 3rd Congressional District, a district that borders mine,&rdquo; said LaLota, who represents New York&rsquo;s 1st Congressional District on Long Island.<\/p>\n<p>Though he broke with Trump&rsquo;s decision to commute the disgraced congressman, LaLota called Santos a distraction from Trump&rsquo;s &ldquo;awesome accomplishments&rdquo; and from the administration&rsquo;s agenda. He criticized the clemency power in general, pointing to former President Joe Biden preemptively pardoning his own family members.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The conversation on clemency is only a complete one if we analyze all the different executives who have granted clemency or pardons or commutations to other individuals,&rdquo; LaLota said.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA), who voted twice to expel Santos from the House, did not denounce Trump&rsquo;s decision to pardon Santos. He <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/madrid_mike\/status\/1979402577893822567\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">told<\/a> CNN&rsquo;s Kaitlan Collins, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m pretty sure I wouldn&rsquo;t have,&rdquo; on whether he would have commuted Santos&rsquo;s sentence.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s for the president to say,&rdquo; Kiley said. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t make it a practice of commenting on each individual pardon that a president grants.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3856355\/george-santos-trump-commutation-prison-reform\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>SANTOS SAYS HE&rsquo;S &lsquo;VERY GRATEFUL&rsquo; FOR TRUMP COMMUTATION, WANTS TO PURSUE PRISON REFORM<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) also stood by Trump&rsquo;s decision to pardon Santos.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The president has the right under the Constitution for pardon and commutation, of course,&rdquo; Johnson said on <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/Politics\/week-transcript-10-19-25-speaker-house-mike\/story?id=126650215\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ABC&rsquo;s<\/a> <em>This Week<\/em>. &ldquo;We believe in redemption. This is a personal belief of mine. And I hope Mr. Santos makes the most of his second chance.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>LaLota opposes Trump&#8217;s Santos commutation: &#8220;3 months insufficient<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2501150,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/AP24303671462774-2.webp?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[27310,65578,52935,3634],"class_list":["post-2501149","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-commutation","tag-nick-lalota","tag-santos-2","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/AP24303671462774-2.webp?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2501149","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2501149"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2501149\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2501153,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2501149\/revisions\/2501153"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2501150"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2501149"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2501149"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2501149"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}