House expels Santos

Dec 01, 2023

George Santos is out.

The House voted to expel the indicted New York Republican 311-114, exceeding the two-thirds threshold required for booting a member. Nearly all Democrats supported the measure, with two voting against it and two voting present, while 104 Republicans backed it. It’s the first time the House has expelled a member without a conviction since the Civil War.

The New York Republican told reporters as the vote concluded: “It’s over. … They just set a dangerous new precedent for themselves.” He declined further comment.

“As unofficially already no longer a member of Congress, I no longer have to answer a single question. That is the one thing that I’m going to take forever,” Santos said.

The resolution was sponsored by House Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest (R-Miss.), after after his panel released an explosive report two weeks ago that found “significant evidence” of Santos’ criminal wrongdoing.

The motion managed to pass with a comfortable margin despite last-minute opposition from all four top GOP House leaders, which shook Republican support for the measure. After the vote, Speaker Mike Johnson did not acknowledge Santos in comments to reporters, instead “admonishing” the Senate for not passing aid for Israel.

“I am gonna make one statement. It’s been over a month since the House passed a bipartisan support package for Israel. It has been sitting on the Senate’s desk over there for over a month. It’s time for them to take action on that matter,” Johnson said.

Only five members have been booted from the House in history. The first three were due to their support for the Confederacy, and the other two were removed after federal convictions.

But in the days before the vote, Santos’ standing with colleagues plummeted, with the New York Republican even acknowledging he would probably have to leave the House. Still, he had refused to resign, with some GOP members speculating Santos wanted to portray himself as a martyr.

“He should have resigned. It shouldn’t have come to this. But it is. And now we’re going to actually allow the third district to elect a representative. Someone that they can trust. Someone that they know,” said Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-N.Y.), one of Santos’ leading critics.

Expulsion is the most severe sanction the House has for its members. Santos’ removal from the House further narrows Republicans’ already miniscule majority.

Santos is facing 23 federal charges but has not been convicted. His trial is slated to begin in September. He has pleaded not guilty.

Jordain Carney, Daniella Diaz and Nicholas Wu contributed to this report.

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