CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (1010 WINS) — Former U.S. Rep. George Santos will seek a pardon from President Donald Trump after he was sentenced last week to more than seven years in prison for wire fraud and identity theft. Santos' lead attorney, Joseph W. Murray, told 1010 WINS he is preparing to submit a request for a pardon to Trump. “We look forward to presenting our case to the president,” Murray said.

“I think when they hear the evidence, the president is going to look favorably on this.” Murray said he believes the charges brought against Santos—a Trump-supporting Republican—were politically charged under the Justice Department of former President Joe Biden. "To incarcerate him now I think is ridiculous," Murray said. "I believe he has suffered enough."

Murray called the sentence "a throwback to the dark ages of our criminal justice system." The White House didn't return to a request for comment. Murray said he may request a reconsideration of sentence from the judge, calling the 87-month sentence for a first-time offender "unprecedented."

"Nonviolent criminals should not be thrown into cages at taxpayer expense," he said. Santos, 36, was sentenced last Friday and is scheduled to turn himself in on July 25 to begin serving the sentence. The former congressman broke down in federal court in Central Islip, telling a judge he was “humbled” and realized he’d betrayed his constituents’ trust.

“I offer my deepest apologies,” he said, adding: “I cannot rewrite the past, but I can control the road ahead.” But the judge wasn’t convinced and handed him the stiff sentence, saying, “Where is your remorse? Where do I see it?” Elected in 2022 after flipping a district that represents parts of Queens and Nassau County, Santos spent less than a year in Congress before he was expelled amid revelations he’d fabricated much of his life story. Speaking Monday with the South Shore Press, Santos said he was coming to terms with the "soul crushing" realization he'll be in his mid-40s when he gets out of prison.

“When you start having that sobering feeling—it’s like, I’m cooked,” he said. “There’s no way I can survive this in every form you can think of.”