By The newspaper
02 Nov 2023, 00:02 AM EDT
The US House of Representatives chose not to expel embattled Republican legislator George Santos.
The measure, promoted by members of his own party, came after Santos was accused of 23 crimes on October 11.
The result of the vote, which concluded with a count of 179 to 213, was well short of the two-thirds supermajority required by congressional rules for such expulsion. Additionally, 19 representatives voted “present.”
George Santos faced a litany of serious charges, including fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, false testimony, conspiracy against the United States, and falsification of documents, among others. However, Santos pleaded “not guilty” to all of these charges and vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
Santos had gained notoriety long before these accusations, primarily for a web of falsehoods he had allegedly spun to ensure his election in the November 2022 midterm elections.
The resolution seeking to oust Santos, who represents a New York district, was introduced by five fellow Republicans from the same state, namely Anthony D’Esposito, Nick LaLota, Marcus J. Molinaro, Mike Lawler and Brandon Williams.
It’s worth noting that all of these representatives come from moderate districts, making Santos’ re-election chances next year and his political future dependent on several factors.
D’Esposito expressed dismay at the decision, saying: “Anyone who has been awake, who has been reading the newspaper and watching Twitter, understands all the reasons why he should be (expelled).”
An internal investigation into Santos’ conduct is underway, led by the House Ethics Committee, a committee controlled by Republicans due to their majority. However, the slim majority, made up of just a dozen deputies, was one of the factors that influenced many conservatives to vote against Santos’ expulsion.
Another key factor in the decision was the precedent that would be set by expelling a member who has been charged but not yet convicted.
The accusations against Santos
Santos, a 35-year-old congressman, faces accusations of identity theft, unauthorized charges to his donors’ credit cards, and providing false information to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and the public about his campaign’s financial status.
U.S. Attorney Breon Peace has alleged that Santos inflated his campaign’s reported income with nonexistent, fabricated or stolen loans and contributions.
It should be noted that Santos’ former campaign treasurer, Nancy Marks, who is also involved in the case, pleaded guilty to fraud. For Santos’ detractors, this served as ample reason for her expulsion.
Of note, only five congressmen have been expelled in the history of the United States House of Representatives. Three of them faced expulsion during the Civil War for supporting the rebel side, while the other two were convicted of bribery crimes in 1980 and 2002.
Keep reading:
Congressman George Santos faces 23-count indictment, including credit card fraud
· George Santos pleads “not guilty” to 23 charges of fraud and identity theft