In a historic move, the US House of Representatives has removed Congressman George Santos, prompted by a damning ethics report and numerous criminal charges.
Expressing his disdain, Mr. Santos declared, "To hell with this place," to reporters upon leaving the Capitol.
This marks a significant event, as the New York Republican becomes only the sixth lawmaker in history and the first since 2002 to be expelled from the lower chamber of Congress. His expulsion follows revelations of multiple lies about his past and allegations of fraud that surfaced after his election.
The Friday vote, the third attempt to oust Mr. Santos after two previous failures, concluded with a resounding 311 to 114 in favor of expulsion. With 206 Democrats and 105 Republicans supporting the resolution, the decision underscores bipartisan concern over the congressman's actions. The 35-year-old from Queens swiftly exited the Capitol before the vote concluded, emphasizing that, as he is no longer a member of Congress, he no longer feels obligated to answer questions from the press.
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The critical moment occurred last month when the House ethics committee disclosed Mr. Santos's exploitation of "every facet of his House candidacy for personal financial gain." The committee specified accusations of misusing campaign funds for Botox treatments, paying off credit card debt, spending on OnlyFans, and indulging in trips to the Hamptons.
Expulsion votes are rare and demand the support of two-thirds of the House, underscoring the gravity of this historic decision.
Despite two prior unsuccessful attempts to oust Mr. Santos, some lawmakers argued against setting a precedent of removing an individual not convicted or tried in court. Republican Jim Jordan, who opposed expulsion, expressed concerns about the potential implications, stating, "The voters elected him; you've got to be careful in taking a vote to kick out of Congress someone the voters sent."
A group of four New York Republicans, elected alongside Santos, sought his removal, emphasizing the need for holding Congress members to a higher standard. Anthony D'Esposito remarked, "It shouldn't have come to this; he should have held himself accountable."
Following the ethics committee's report, Santos refused to resign, challenging colleagues to take a tough vote. Constituents in his district welcomed the news, with one succinctly stating "good riddance." Jody Kassfinkel, an advocate for Santos's removal, sees his expulsion as "a win for democracy," emphasizing the necessity of this decision in the absence of his voluntary resignation.
What happens next?
Following the gaveling of the vote, Mr. Santos is now officially a former member of Congress. His official website has been taken down, staff phones redirect to a generic voicemail, and the nameplate outside his office has been removed. Although a sign states, "Yes! We're open," the office appears deserted, except for occasional staff activity.
Having lost his congressional privileges, Mr. Santos can no longer vote on legislation, access government health benefits, or qualify for a legislative pension. Despite this, he retains certain perks, such as dining in the exclusive House restaurant, using the Capitol gym, and borrowing books from the Library of Congress.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has a 10-day window to call for an election, likely scheduled for next February. With the Republican House majority now reduced to eight seats, Democrats are well-positioned to fill the vacancy.
This marks a dramatic fall for Mr. Santos, who secured an unexpected win in a Democratic-leaning district, becoming the first openly gay Republican elected to Congress. Facing a federal fraud trial next year, there's speculation about a potential plea deal to avoid prison, similar to a case in Brazil earlier this year. Otherwise, he could face a maximum penalty of at least 20 years behind bars.
