For the sixth time in its history, the US House of Representatives expelled one of its members. Enough of the Republican majority joined the majority of the Democratic minority on Friday morning to unseat George Santos, a rookie Republican from New York.
The House Ethics Committee recently issued a report concluding that there was substantial evidence that Santos broke the law. Federal investigators have accused Santos of fraud, money laundering, stealing campaign donor identities, falsifying campaign finance reports and more.
Santos has pleaded not guilty to all 23 federal charges he faces. He was the target of intense scrutiny and ridicule after it was revealed that he had embellished his education, career and family background.
With a bang of his gavel, House Speaker Mike Johnson officially announced Santos’ dismissal – 311 members voted to expel Santos. 114 Republican legislators voted against his impeachment. Two Democrats registered their votes as present.
“With a two-thirds affirmative vote, the resolution was adopted,” Johnson, a Republican, told the House.
“The Clerk will notify the Governor of the State of New York of the House’s action.” With Santos’ expulsion there are now only 434 representatives.
There was then a round of applause after the historic event. Santos muttered to a reporter “to hell with this place” after leaving the House floor for the last time.
“It shouldn’t have come to this,” said Anthony D’Esposito, a New York Republican who supported impeachment. “George Santos should have taken responsibility. He should have resigned.” “It’s time to move on with George Santos,” Nick Lalota, also a New York Republican, told reporters.
Santos had become the butt of jokes for comedians across the country. He provided much material after it was revealed that he had made numerous absurd and false claims, including that he was a college volleyball star on a championship team, that he had worked at major investment banks and accumulated wealth, and that his mother was in World Trade Center during the September 11 terrorist attacks.
He also claimed to be a descendant of Holocaust survivors, another false claim that especially angered voters in a district that is 20% Jewish. Santos later tried to qualify this lie by explaining that he was “Jewish,” if not actually Jewish. This only generated additional revulsion and amplified calls for him to quit.
“This is a huge victory for the residents of New York’s 3rd District, who are finally free from a lying legislator who cheats the system to line his own pockets and closet,” said Rahna Epting, executive director of the progressive advocacy group political action MoveOn, which had pushed for the congressman to resign or be expelled.
With Santos’ removal from Congress, the Republican Party maintains a slim four-seat majority in the House with 11 months to go until the next general election. A special election is expected to be held early next year in the Santos district to replace him. Democrats promise to flip New York’s third congressional district seat to their side. President Joe Biden in 2020 won the district by more than 10 percentage points.