By EFE
Nov 29, 2023, 12:37 PM EST
Democratic lawmakers in the House of Representatives introduced a resolution to expel Republican George Santos from Congress after an investigation revealed he pocketed public money for personal matters.
Under congressional rules, the resolution presented by Democrats Robert Garcia and Dan Goldman could be voted on next Thursday.
The chairman of the House Ethics Committee, Republican Michael Guest, also presented a resolution before the Thanksgiving holidays to expel the controversial New York congressman.
It is the most serious effort to expel from Congress Santos, who is also accused of 23 crimes, and who has already survived two similar votes in the House of Representatives, the last one just weeks ago, at the beginning of November.
For a congressman to be expelled, a two-thirds majority is required, so he must receive the support of a large part of the legislators of both parties.
The Ethics Committee made public its 56-page report two weeks ago, which details the financial schemes with which Santos transferred money that went into his campaign to his personal accounts.
Through a front company, the legislator transferred at least $200,000 in 2022, money with which he made payments in luxury goods stores such as Hermès, as well as the adult content platform OnlyFans and meals, among others. bills.
Guest said after making the report public that the results of Congress’ internal ethics investigation are “more than sufficient to merit punishment” and that “the most appropriate punishment is expulsion.”
Santos, who denies everything, acknowledged in an interview this weekend that he will most likely be expelled and accused his colleagues of wanting to get rid of him as a legislator. He has also announced that he has no intention of running again.
Outside of Congress, Santos is accused before a court in New York of fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, false testimony, conspiracy against the United States or falsification of documents, among others, charges to which he has pleaded not guilty. .
Before his alleged crimes became known, the Republican had already achieved public notoriety, famous for the web of falsehoods he concocted to be elected in the November 2022 midterm elections.
Only five congressmen have been expelled in the history of the United States House of Representatives, three of them during the Civil War for supporting the rebel side. The other two, convicted of bribery crimes, in 1980 and 2002.
Keep reading:
- Republican George Santos rules out competing to continue representing New York after reports of violating several laws
- House Ethics Committee Takes Steps to Try to Expel George Santos from Congress
- George Santos: Lower House votes against the expulsion of the accused Republican