Defiant GOP Rep Santos Faces Expulsion: In the face of mounting challenges, embattled GOP Rep. George Santos remains defiant as the House gears up for a crucial expulsion vote. The backdrop of a scathing House Ethics Committee investigation has intensified the pressure on Santos, who steadfastly refuses to resign despite the looming threat.
Santos, representing New York, has weathered previous attempts to oust him from the House, but the latest effort gains momentum following the Ethics Committee’s damning report. The investigation found Santos “sought to fraudulently exploit every aspect of his House candidacy for his own personal financial profit.” Though he won’t run again, the congressman called the probe “disgusting politicized” smear.”
The expulsion vote, scheduled for Friday, marks a critical juncture in Santos’s political career. In response to the impending decision, Santos plans a news conference on Thursday morning. In recent remarks on the House floor, he raised concerns about the potential erosion of the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
Expulsion, the most severe form of punishment in the House, requires a two-thirds majority vote. Only five members have ever faced expulsion, underscoring the gravity of the situation. The decision becomes more complex as Republicans grapple with due process considerations, given that Santos has yet to be convicted in a court of law.
Apart from the Ethics Committee inquiry, Santos faces 23 federal charges, including allegations of fraud related to Covid-19 unemployment benefits, misusing campaign funds, and providing false information about his personal finances on House disclosure reports. The outcome of the expulsion vote remains uncertain, with House Speaker Mike Johnson expressing reservations and highlighting concerns about setting a precedent.
As the political drama unfolds, Santos’s fate hangs in the balance, with a decision that could reverberate beyond his individual case, shaping the approach to future ethics-related challenges in Congress.
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Our Reader’s Queries
What did George Santos do to get expelled?
Santos has been hit with a second indictment, this time for allegedly stealing the identities of his campaign donors. Prosecutors claim that he used their credit cards to make unauthorized charges, benefiting both his campaign and himself personally. The stolen funds were even transferred to his own bank account, according to the prosecution.
Who has been expelled from the House of Representatives?
Several representatives have been expelled from Congress throughout history. These include Henry C. Burnett from Kentucky in 1861, Michael Myers from Pennsylvania in 1980, James Traficant from Ohio in 2002, and George Santos from New York in 2023 (future expulsion).
How many votes does it take to expel a member of Congress?
According to Article I, section 5 of the US Constitution, every House of Congress has the power to establish its own rules of conduct, discipline its members for unruly behavior, and, with a two-thirds majority vote, remove a member from office.
What happens when a congressman is expelled?
The U.S. Constitution gives Congress the authority to discipline its Members for unruly conduct and, with a two-thirds majority, remove a Member through expulsion. This process is used when a Member has been lawfully elected and seated but has engaged in behavior that warrants removal from office.