Former U.S. Rep. George Santos is speaking out from behind bars, claiming conditions at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fairton, New Jersey, are unsafe and degrading.
Santos, who is serving an 87-month sentence for identity theft and wire fraud, has published weekly letters describing black mold, extreme heat, expired food, and crumbling facilities. He argues the problems reflect not just poor management but a “culture of neglect” inside the federal prison system.
“The system isn’t built to rehabilitate—it’s engineered to break you down,” Santos wrote, adding that dignity and basic rights are being stripped from incarcerated people.
He says his columns are meant to highlight the human cost of mass incarceration and ensure that prisoners are not forgotten.
