On Thursday, the House of Representatives voted to expel Republican Rep. George Santos of New York, making him the sixth member in U.S. history and the first in more than 20 years to be removed from the chamber. The resolution to expel Santos, who is facing 23 federal charges and a damning report from the House Ethics Committee, passed by a vote of 402–10, with 21 members not voting. The vote came after a heated debate on the House floor, where lawmakers from both parties denounced Santos’ conduct and urged him to resign.
Santos, who pleaded not guilty to all criminal counts, has been accused of stealing from donors, using campaign funds for personal expenses, fraudulently collecting unemployment benefits, lying about his background and education, and engaging in fraudulent business dealings. The Ethics Committee said in its report that there was “substantial evidence” that Santos repeatedly broke the law and violated House rules.
Santos, who was elected in 2022, has refused to step down and has claimed he is a victim of a political witch hunt. He defended himself on the House floor before the vote, saying he has the right to “the presumption of innocence” and asking his colleagues to “look at the facts, not the headlines.”
“I am not a perfect man, but I am not a criminal,” Santos said. “I have made mistakes, but I have never intentionally harmed anyone. I have always tried to serve my constituents and my country with honor and integrity.”
Santos also accused the Ethics Committee of conducting a “biased and flawed” investigation and said he was denied due process and a fair hearing. He said he was confident he would be vindicated in court and vowed to continue fighting for his seat.
“I will not give up, I will not quit, I will not surrender,” Santos said. “I will continue to work hard for the people of New York’s 3rd Congressional District, and I will seek justice in the court of law.”
But Santos’ plea fell on deaf ears, as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle expressed their disgust and disappointment with his actions and said he had brought shame and dishonor to the House.
“Rep. Santos has betrayed the trust of the American people and this institution,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. “He has shown contempt for the rule of law and the values we hold dear. He has violated his oath of office, and he has disgraced himself and this body. He has forfeited his right to serve in the House of Representatives, and he must be expelled.”
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who had previously supported Santos, said he had changed his mind after reading the Ethics Committee’s report and said Santos had “crossed a line that cannot be crossed.”
“Rep. Santos has engaged in a pattern of deception, fraud, and corruption that is appalling and unacceptable,” McCarthy said. “He has lied to his constituents, his colleagues, and the American people. He has abused his power and his position for personal gain. He has shown no remorse, no accountability, and no respect for this institution. He has lost the confidence and the trust of his colleagues, and he has lost the privilege of serving in the House of Representatives.”
The expulsion of Santos triggered a special election to fill his seat in New York’s 3rd Congressional District, which covers parts of Long Island and Queens. New York Governor Kathy Hochul will have to call the election and the party leaders will pick the nominees to replace him.
The last time the House expelled a member was in 2002, when Democrat James Traficant of Ohio was removed after being convicted of bribery, racketeering, and tax evasion. The other four members who were expelled were all involved in the Civil War and took up arms for the Confederacy.
Santos was elected on a campaign of lies, from conflicting accounts of his mother, who was either killed in the 9/11 attacks or died of cancer, depending on what day of the week you ask him on. He tried to claim Jewish heritage, then later “softened” that to being jew-ish, whatever that’s supposed to mean. Santos’ fast and loose approach to the truth has become a punchline to late-night comics and the writers at Saturday Night Live, who are undoubtedly happy they returned from their strike in time to write all the jokes about this they are probably writing themselves.
Good luck at your next job, George. Maybe Breitbart or Newsmax is hiring?