New York Republican Rep. George Santos Faces Possible Expulsion Vote Following Ethics Committee Report
The House Ethics Committee has released a report finding evidence of federal law violations and campaign fund misuse, sparking the possibility of a third and final expulsion vote for New York Republican Rep. George Santos. This comes after previous attempts to oust Santos from the House due to his admission of lying about his background and facing charges relating to wire fraud and money laundering.
Santos, who was elected in the 2022 midterms, triumphed over Democrat Robert Zimmerman in a once-blue district that voted for President Joe Biden in 2020. However, in December 2022, discrepancies regarding Santos’ background were exposed by The New York Times. The report revealed that Santos had lied about his college and work experience, falsified records, and falsely claimed to be Jewish.
Following these revelations, investigations were launched by both the local district attorney’s office and the New York State Attorney General’s office. Additionally, organizations such as the Campaign Legal Center and End Citizens United filed complaints with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) concerning Santos’ campaign finances. The situation escalated further when law enforcement authorities in Brazil reopened an investigation into Santos’ alleged use of a stolen checkbook in 2008.
Pressure for Santos’ resignation increased as colleagues from both sides of the aisle called for action, leading to the House Ethics Committee being asked to intervene. In response, Santos decided to step down from his House committee seats, but maintained that he would serve his full two-year term.
In February 2023, a former aide accused Santos of sexual harassment, which he vehemently denied. The House Ethics Committee subsequently voted in March 2023 to investigate Santos for alleged “unlawful activity,” non-disclosure, conflict of interest violations, and sexual misconduct.
Despite the mounting controversies, Santos announced his reelection campaign in April 2023. However, in May 2023, federal prosecutors filed 13 charges against him, including wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, and lying to the House. Santos pleaded not guilty and denounced the investigation as a “witch hunt.”
The situation took another turn in October 2023 when Santos’ former campaign staffer pleaded guilty, while Santos himself faced a new indictment accusing him of stealing campaign donors’ identities and using their credit cards. In response, the House Ethics Committee released a report in November 2023, uncovering substantial evidence of federal law violations committed by Santos. The committee plans to refer the evidence to the Department of Justice.
In yet another blow to Santos’ already tarnished reputation, his second campaign staffer also pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges. Despite the mounting controversies and legal battles, Santos announced in November 2023 that he would not seek reelection in 2024.
Despite this decision, Democrats have filed a resolution to hold a third expulsion vote for Santos, which may take place this week. However, Santos has adamantly refused to resign and has accused his colleagues of bullying him. In an ironic twist, he commented that he would “wear [the expulsion] like a badge of honor.”
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen what the fate of Rep. George Santos will be and how these developments will impact the political landscape moving forward. Stay tuned for further updates on this ongoing political saga.
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