The US House of Representatives voted on Friday to expel New York Republican George Santos from Congress over ethics violations, making him the sixth lawmaker ever to be kicked out of the chamber and the first ever of his party.
Santos, who was elected to Congress in 2022 after running unsuccessfully in 2020 against incumbent Democratic representative Thomas Suozzi, faced 23 felony charges in the US and Brazil, including wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, making false statements, and check fraud. He was accused of spending campaign money on personal expenses such as Botox injections, designer clothes, luxury hotels, and gambling. He also allegedly falsified his biography, claiming to have a degree from Harvard University, a successful career in finance, and a charitable foundation that did not exist.
The House Ethics Committee recommended Santos’ expulsion in November, after finding that he violated the House Code of Official Conduct and brought discredit upon the House. The committee also said that Santos showed no remorse or willingness to cooperate with the investigation, and that he continued to lie to the public and his colleagues about his background and activities.
The expulsion vote was largely along party lines, with 218 Democrats and 12 Republicans voting in favor, and 203 Republicans and one independent voting against. Santos did not attend the vote, but issued a defiant statement on social media, saying “I will not be silenced”. He also vowed to appeal the decision and run for re-election in a special election that will be held to fill his vacant seat.
The special election is expected to be a fierce contest, as Santos’ district is considered a swing district that could determine the balance of power in the House in the 2024 midterm elections. Both national parties are gearing up for a massive battle to win the seat, with Democrats hoping to capitalize on Santos’ scandal and Republicans trying to distance themselves from him and rally behind a new candidate.
Santos is the first member of Congress to be expelled since 2002, when Ohio Democrat James Traficant was ousted for bribery and racketeering. He is also the first Republican ever to be expelled from the House, and the first openly LGBT member elected to Congress as a non-incumbent Republican. His expulsion marks a rare and historic moment in American politics, as well as a dramatic fall from grace for a politician who once claimed to be a rising star in the GOP.
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