Lawmakers ‘Bullying’ Me Ahead of Expulsion Vote: George Santos
TL/DR –
Rep. George Santos, a Republican from New York, is facing a vote for his expulsion from Congress, following allegations of fraud and ethics violations detailed in a House Ethics Committee report. If the resolution passes, he would be the first lawmaker in over 20 years to be expelled from the House, despite not being convicted of a crime. Santos, who also faces 23 federal charges, including fraud and money laundering, has refused to resign and decried the allegations as “theater for the cameras.”
Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) refuses to resign despite looming expulsion vote
The embattled Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) firmly stated on Thursday that he will not be bullied by House members into resigning. He warned that successful efforts by Congress to expel him could lead to the downfall of several other lawmakers.
At a news conference, Santos criticized the House Ethics Committee report — detailing numerous fraud and ethics violations allegations against him — as incomplete and “littered with hyperbole.” He stated, “The reality of it is it’s all theater. It’s theater for the cameras, it’s theater for the microphones, it’s theater for the American people at the expense of the American people, because no real work’s getting done.”
The House is due to debate a resolution to expel Santos from Congress on Thursday following the release of the Ethics Committee report. A vote is expected on Friday. Santos, a New York Republican, is currently facing 23 federal charges, including fraud, money laundering, falsifying records, and aggravated identity theft.
If expelled, Santos would be only the sixth legislator in U.S. history to be removed from the House, and the first in more than 20 years. Santos could potentially be the first congressman expelled in modern times without a criminal conviction. “If the House wants to start different precedent and expel me, that is going to be the undoing of a lot of members of this body,” Santos said.
Santos stated he would introduce a resolution to expel Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) who pleaded guilty last month to falsely triggering a fire alarm. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) dismissed Santos’ resolution, stating that the Ethics Committee had already declined to investigate Bowman.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) expressed reservations about the motion to expel Santos. “We’ve not whipped the vote, and we wouldn’t,” Johnson told reporters. “I trust that people will make that decision thoughtfully and in good faith. I personally have real reservations about doing this. I’m concerned about a precedent that may be set for that.”
The Ethics Committee report, published on Nov. 16, accuses Santos of multiple allegations including stealing money from his campaign, deceiving donors, creating fictitious loans, and engaging in fraudulent business dealings.
Santos refused to address the report’s details, claiming he would respond to it “line by line” at a later time. He also confirmed his decision not to run for reelection, reminding reporters that he is only 35 years old. “It doesn’t mean that it’s goodbye forever,” he said.
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