WASHINGTON, In a decisive move, the US House of Representatives voted 311-114 to expel indicted Republican George Santos on Friday, bringing an abrupt end to his brief tenure in the House. The expulsion was prompted by criminal corruption charges and allegations of misusing campaign funds.
Santos, a controversial freshman lawmaker, faced a two-thirds majority requirement for expulsion, and the vote surpassed this threshold. This marks Santos as the sixth member to be expelled from the House, the first without ties to the Confederacy or a previous criminal conviction.
Following the vote, Santos, 35, expressed defiance as he left the Capitol, stating, “As unofficially already no longer a member of Congress, I no longer have to answer a single question from you guys.” He added, “To hell with this place,” according to multiple media reports.
Despite Santos’ expulsion, his office plaque remained, while a small bouquet of flowers lay outside. New York state Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, now has 10 days to call a special election for the vacant seat, which must take place 70 to 80 days from that proclamation.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, had opposed expulsion, but his stance did not sway enough party members. Concerns were raised about the potential precedent for abusing lawmakers’ power of expulsion, and the expulsion further narrows the Republican majority to 221-213.
Santos, representing a district encompassing parts of New York City and Long Island, had been embroiled in controversy since his November 2022 election. Admitting to fabricating parts of his biography, he faces federal charges of laundering campaign funds and defrauding donors, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
While Santos survived a prior expulsion attempt in early November, a subsequent House Ethics Committee report detailing his behavior eroded his remaining support. Only 112 of 222 House Republicans voted to retain him in office this time. Two Democrats voted against expulsion.
Representative Dan Goldman, a former federal prosecutor and New York Democrat, emphasized Santos’ lies designed to defraud voters, distinguishing his case from typical public corruption instances.
A bipartisan congressional investigation revealed Santos charging nearly $4,000 for spa treatments, including Botox, to his congressional campaign account.
By Reuters
