In a significant development, embattled Republican Representative George Santos is facing a potential expulsion from the US House of Representatives. The expulsion vote has been scheduled for next week, and members of his own party have initiated this action against him. The move comes in the wake of the recent filing of 23 charges, including identity theft, against Mr. Santos by prosecutors. While Mr. Santos has vehemently denied these charges and expressed his unwillingness to resign, the pressure on him to step down has intensified. Several fellow Republicans from his home state of New York have already expressed their support for a resolution seeking his ousting.
Congressman Anthony D’Esposito led the charge by formally demanding the expulsion vote and reading the resolution on the House floor. He was joined by New York Republican colleagues Marc Molinaro, Nick LaLota, and Mike Lawler in calling for the removal of Mr. Santos. Their resolution emphasized that George Santos is unfit to serve his constituents as a United States representative and accused him of being a “conman” and a “stain on the House.” The indictments and ongoing investigations into Mr. Santos’ alleged misconduct served as justifications for this resolution.
Expelling a member of the House of Representatives is an exceedingly rare occurrence. According to the US House Archives, only five lawmakers have ever been expelled, three of whom were forced out during the US Civil War. Over the past four decades, only two congressmen faced expulsion after being convicted on federal charges. However, the severity of the scandals surrounding Mr. Santos makes this case one of the most serious faced by a member of Congress in recent years. He has been accused of fabricating his academic and professional history, violating campaign finance and conflict of interest laws, falsely claiming family ties to Holocaust survivors, and establishing a fraudulent animal charity to divert funds meant for a veteran’s terminally ill dog.
Earlier this month, one of Mr. Santos’ top campaign staffers pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to commit fraud, further deepening the legal troubles surrounding the embattled representative. Federal prosecutors have charged Mr. Santos with an array of crimes, including wire fraud, identity theft, lying to Congress, money laundering, and credit card fraud. Currently, he faces a total of 23 federal charges, with 13 originating from an initial indictment and an additional 10 from a superseding indictment.
All four Republican congressmen seeking Mr. Santos’ expulsion represent districts won by Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 election. Consequently, their re-election prospects are already on delicate ground. However, thus far, Mr. Santos has managed to retain his congressional position despite the damaging reports and indictments. As Republicans hold a slim majority in the House of Representatives, any loss of a seat would impact their ability to advance their legislative agenda. Therefore, if Mr. Santos is expelled, the Republican Party will lose another crucial vote. It is worth noting that Democrats previously attempted to force an expulsion vote in May but were unable to garner enough support from Republicans, given their minority status. Instead, Republicans opted to refer Mr. Santos to the House Ethics Committee.
The outcome of the upcoming expulsion vote will profoundly impact not only the political career of George Santos but also the dynamics within the US House of Representatives. While Mr. Santos maintains his innocence and seeks due process, the seriousness of the charges against him and the mounting pressure from his party members may drastically shape the future of his congressional tenure. As this case unfolds, it is essential to closely monitor the actions and decisions of House members, as well as the potential repercussions for party politics and the public perception of elected officials.