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White Collar Advice · August 6 · 1 min

Freedom Doesn't Prove You Changed, Conduct Does

Freedom doesn't prove you've changed. Your conduct does. George Santos was sentenced to 78 or 87 months for fraud and identity theft, went to prison, complained, got clemency, came home, and then bet in the prediction markets that he would be somewhere. He made $35,000. He got caught. He settled with a civil agency, and his lawyer proudly said he doesn't admit or deny liability. In 17 years I've watched people go to prison for embezzling $35,000. If you get a pardon or clemency, you should be above reproach. You should set the standard for how to behave. Santos doubled down instead, and he made it worse for everyone who is actually a candidate for clemency. I think it's a real shame, and I think he's an embarrassment.

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Freedom doesn't prove you've changed. Your conduct does. George Santos was sentenced to 78 or 87 months for fraud and identity theft, went to prison, complained, got clemency, came home, and then bet in the prediction markets that he would be somewhere. He made $35,000. He got caught. He settled with a civil agency, and his lawyer proudly said he doesn't admit or deny liability. In 17 years I've watched people go to prison for embezzling $35,000. If you get a pardon or clemency, you should be above reproach. You should set the standard for how to behave. Santos doubled down instead, and he made it worse for everyone who is actually a candidate for clemency. I think it's a real shame, and I think he's an embarrassment.