US President Donald Trump has commuted the sentence of George Santos, a former Republican congressman serving seven years in prison for fraud and identity theft.

In a post on social media, Trump said Santos has been horribly mistreated, adding: Therefore, I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY. Good luck George, have a great life!

The former lawmaker was only the sixth in US history to be expelled from Congress, after a damning ethics report in 2023.

Santos, who admitted to stealing the identities of 11 people - including from his own family members, was serving his sentence at a minimum-security jail in New Jersey. He was released on Friday night, US media report.

God bless President Donald J Trump, said one of Santos's lawyers, Joseph Murray, after Trump's announcement.

In April, when Santos was sentenced, a judge told him: You got elected with your words, most of which were lies. He reportedly cried in court and begged for forgiveness, stating: I cannot rewrite the past, but I can control the road ahead.

Prosecutors argued that the novice politician had lied about his background and misused campaign funds to finance his lifestyle.

In his post, Trump justified the move by criticizing Democratic senator Richard Blumenthal, whom he accused of fabricating his US military service.

This is far worse than what George Santos did, and at least Santos had the Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN! Trump wrote.

Trump has called for an investigation into Blumenthal over claims he misspoke about his military service, which the senator acknowledged was an error.

Santos's downfall began in 2022, after the New York Times published an investigation revealing he had fabricated his CV, prompting further scrutiny and legal challenges.

The House ethics panel accused him of using campaign funds for personal benefits, including cosmetic treatments.

As Santos seeks to return to his community, he reflects on his actions and aims for a fresh start, reiterating his call for fairness from the justice system.

Trump has previously issued pardons to other Republican figures, further highlighting the ongoing debates about justice and political accountability.