Republican Representative George Santos of New York is facing a crucial vote in the House of Representatives that could result in his expulsion from Congress. This comes after two previous unsuccessful attempts to remove him from office. Lawmakers who believe Santos is unfit to serve have accused him of various misdeeds, including campaign finance abuses and fabricating his life story. The House is expected to vote on the measure in the coming days.
The previous attempts to expel Santos were sidetracked, with no direct vote on his worthiness as a House member. Critics of the expulsion plan argued that Santos has not been convicted of any wrongdoing in a court of law. However, the House Ethics Committee has been investigating Santos’ conduct, and the report was published just before Thanksgiving. This has given lawmakers a basis to consider expulsion.
Expulsions from the House are extremely rare, requiring a two-thirds majority vote. The precedent for expulsion dates back to the Civil War era, when lawmakers who sided with the Confederacy were expelled. Since then, only five lawmakers have been expelled, including those convicted of bribery and other criminal charges.
Santos, who is currently facing multiple criminal charges, is set to go on trial in February. The question now is whether the allegations against him are severe enough to warrant expulsion. The House leadership is likely to assess the votes before calling for the expulsion vote, as a failed attempt could be damaging.
It is worth noting that previous resolutions to expel Santos, as well as another lawmaker, were considered “privileged” resolutions, which receive priority in the legislative process. However, the current resolution is not privileged, potentially allowing leaders on both sides to gauge support before proceeding. This could also give Santos a chance to resign before facing expulsion.
Santos has been vocal about his potential expulsion, taking to social media to express his views. He has criticized the House, calling it “populated by felons galore” and accusing lawmakers of having questionable backgrounds. Santos has stated that he will not resign from Congress but has announced that he will not seek re-election.
The outcome of the expulsion vote will have implications for the Republican majority in the House. If Santos is expelled, the GOP majority will decrease, potentially making it more challenging for Republicans to pass measures without Democratic support. The numbers game in the House is also affected by upcoming resignations and job changes.
In conclusion, the fate of Representative George Santos hangs in the balance as the House prepares to vote on his possible expulsion. The allegations against him, along with the findings of the House Ethics Committee report, will play a crucial role in determining his future. The outcome of the vote could have implications for the Republican majority in the House.
