Title: Vote to Expel Republican Lawmaker George Santos from U.S. House Fails, Preserving GOP Majority
Date: November 1, 2023
Washington, D.C. – In a major blow to the Democrats, a vote to expel Republican lawmaker George Santos from the U.S. House of Representatives failed on Wednesday, ensuring that Republicans maintain their narrow 221-212 majority.
Santos, a 35-year-old representative from New York, is facing multiple charges, including money laundering, illegally receiving unemployment benefits, and unauthorized use of donors’ credit cards. However, with less than two-thirds of the chamber supporting the resolution, Santos will retain his position in Congress.
“I must warn my colleagues that voting for expulsion at this point would circumvent the judicial system’s right to due process that I’m entitled to and desanctify the long-held premise that one is presumed innocent until proven guilty,” Santos stated prior to the vote.
Expelling a lawmaker requires a two-thirds majority in the chamber, and historically, only five individuals have been expelled from the House, three for fighting against the U.S. government during the Civil War.
Santos represents a small district in New York City and parts of its eastern suburbs. Nonpartisan election forecasters have suggested that Democrats could have recaptured the seat.
Last month, Republican lawmakers from New York had expressed their intent to introduce a resolution to expel Santos. However, the proceedings were delayed due to the leadership vacuum caused by the ousting of Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The delay worked in Santos’ favor as Republican lawmakers elected Mike Johnson to succeed McCarthy, and Johnson publicly expressed his opposition to expelling Santos based on the charges against him.
Santos has been mired in controversy ever since his election victory last year when he was accused of fabricating parts of his biography during his campaign.
The House Ethics Committee has also begun investigating allegations against Santos. The investigative subcommittee has reviewed numerous documents, contacted witnesses, and authorized subpoenas. The committee stated that it would announce its next steps by November 17.
In a separate development, the House defeated a resolution to censure Democratic congresswoman Rashida Tlaib in a bipartisan vote of 222-186. The resolution, introduced by Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, accused Tlaib of engaging in “antisemitic activity, sympathizing with terrorist organizations, and leading an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol Complex.” Tlaib denied participating in any insurrection and called the resolution “deeply Islamophobic.”
The upcoming trial for Santos is scheduled for September 9, 2024, just before the crucial elections that will determine control of the White House and Congress.
Reporting by Makini Brice; Editing by Scott Malone, Jonathan Oatis, Lisa Shumaker, and Diane Craft