Former Rep. George Santos says he will pay restitution only if he's required by law

Former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., said in a Sunday interview on CNN that he would only pay back approximately $374,000 in restitution if it is "required of me by the law."

WASHINGTON — Former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., said in a Sunday interview on CNN that he would only pay back approximately $374,000 in restitution if it is “required of me by the law.”

“I can do my best to do whatever the law requires of me,” Santos said in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” when asked whether he would work to pay people back as a judge had previously ordered.

“So I don’t know what that is. I’ve been out of prison for two days. I agreed to come here to speak with you candidly and openly and not to obfuscate,” he said. “If it’s required of me by the law, yes. If it’s not, then no. I will do whatever the law requires me to do.”

New fallout after George Santos freed from prison01:46Santos was released from prison after President Donald Trump commuted his sentence on Friday, cutting short his seven-year prison term after less than three months.

The former congressman had previously pleaded guilty to charges of committing wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. As part of his sentence, Santos was ordered to pay nearly $374,000 in restitution to those whom prosecutors characterized as his victims. Prosecutors had accused Santos of embezzling money from campaign donors and charging credit cards without authorization, among other crimes.