The halls of the Longworth House office building and the U.S. Capitol were thrown into disarray when Representative George Santos, a Republican from New York, engaged in a heated exchange with an anti-Israel protestor, resulting in a profanity-laced tirade. However, despite facing mounting controversy, Santos managed to avoid expulsion from the House of Representatives following an intense effort led by fellow New York Republicans. The final vote tallied 213-179 against expelling Santos, with 19 lawmakers choosing to abstain. Expelling a member from the House requires a two-thirds majority, making it a historically rare occurrence.
Among those who voted, 24 Republicans supported Santos’ expulsion, while 31 Democrats stood in favor of allowing him to retain his House seat. Santos, in a statement to reporters after the vote, emphasized that there are more Democrats who believe in the rule of law within the House than there are Republicans. He expressed his determination to clear his name and fight for due process.
The New York Republicans spearheading the expulsion effort were Anthony D’Esposito, Nick LaLota, and Mike Lawler. Santos, in his own defense on the House floor, accused his Republican colleagues of assuming the roles of “judge, jury, and executioner.” He criticized their actions as undermining the Republican system of government and damaging the integrity of the House. Santos questioned the consistency of those who claim to be pro-Constitution while simultaneously acting in such a manner.
Santos, as the sole member of Congress to speak in his defense during the debate preceding the resolution, faces a series of charges including conspiracy, wire fraud, making false statements, falsification of records, aggravated identity theft, and credit card fraud. The scandal surrounding him has brought significant scrutiny and controversy.
Elizabeth Elkind, a reporter for Digital focusing on Congress and the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and politics, provided this report. Elkind has previously contributed to publications such as Daily Mail and CBS News. Stay tuned for the latest updates on the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews, and more political content.
