Published On: December 2nd, 2023
The brief tenure of indicted Republican George Santos in the US House of Representatives ended on Friday, marking his expulsion as the sixth member of the House in history. He is now the first to be expelled without serving in the Confederate army or receiving a criminal conviction. The House bypassed the two-thirds majority needed to dismiss its members by voting 311–114 to remove the controversial legislator immediately. George Santos’s instant removal has reduced the number of members in the US House to 434. Several GOP leaders expressed concerns about removing a representative who had not been found guilty of a crime.
Why was George Santos expelled from Congress?
George Santos has been involved in numerous scandals since his election in November 2022. The accusations have only increased in number since then. His lies include claiming that his mother died in the 9/11 terror attacks and scamming Amish dog breeders in Pennsylvania.
George Santos was expelled from Congress two weeks after a scathing House Ethics Committee report. Federal prosecutors charge him with embezzling money from donors, laundering campaign cash, and fabricating much of his biography. According to the news, Santos altered the political environment by using campaign cash to pay for expensive products, travel, and cosmetic procedures. A trial for George Santos is scheduled for 2024. Santos has signed a not-guilty plea on 23 charges, including wire fraud and money laundering.
Earlier this year, Santos had already escaped two efforts at expulsion. In its entire existence, the House has only expelled five members. Three of them were removed in 1861 for fighting for the Confederacy during the Civil War and betraying the Union.
What Happens Next?
Immediately following the vote count, Mr. Santos was formally voted out of Congress. The speaker of the House gave the clerk instructions to inform the governor of New York of the expulsion. The House operated in that manner in both 1980 and 2002. The nameplate outside his office was removed. His official website was down, and his staff phones now led to a generic voicemail.
Only when a successor is chosen, George Santos’s absence would leave the 3rd Congressional District of New York without representation in Congress. However, Santos staff will continue to assist with constituent casework during this period. The House clerk is mandated by law to administer the office of any member who passes away, resigns, or is expelled until a successor is chosen. The Democratic governor of New York State, Kathy Hochul, has ten days to call a special election to fill the role. The election is scheduled for 70 to 80 days following the announcement.
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