Expelled former Rep. George Santos, a Republican from New York, made a surprising return to Congress to watch President Biden’s State of the Union address. Santos had been kicked out of the House of Representatives late last year, with both Republicans and Democrats voting him out. However, as a former member, Santos still retains certain privileges, including entry to the House floor when the body is in session.
Santos expressed his feelings about being back in the U.S. Capitol, stating that it felt “different.” He also did not rule out the possibility of running for office again, despite facing pending federal indictments. “I don’t put anything past my desire to run for office at this point, but right now, I’m a spectator, and I’m just watching,” Santos said.
However, Santos’ appearance drew criticism from his former colleague, Rep. Ritchie Torres, a Democrat from New York. Torres called for Santos to lose his House floor privileges, stating that he was disgracing the House floor with his presence.
Santos was expelled from Congress following a House Ethics Committee report that found him guilty of misusing campaign funds on luxury items and OnlyFans, among other things. While he has not been convicted of a crime, Santos has been indicted on multiple counts related to wire fraud, identity theft, falsification of records, credit card fraud, and other charges. He has pleaded not guilty.
The expulsion vote against Santos further weakened the already slim majority of House Republicans. Expelling a member of Congress requires a two-thirds majority vote, and the last time a lawmaker was expelled was over two decades ago when former Rep. Jim Traficant, a Democrat from Ohio, was voted out in 2002 after being convicted of 10 felony counts.
George Santos’ return to Congress has sparked controversy and raised questions about the ethics and integrity of elected officials. As the political landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how Santos’ presence will be received by both his former colleagues and the American public.
