Republican George Santos Expelled from Congress in Historic Vote

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George Santos is only the sixth lawmaker in history to be removed from the lower chamber of Congress, and the first since 2002.

The US House of Representatives voted Friday to expel disgraced Rep. George Santos, a historic vote that makes the New York congressman the sixth lawmaker ever to be expelled from the chamber.

In a 311-114 vote, 105 Republicans sided with nearly all Democrats to remove Santos, who faces a 23-count federal indictment and became widely known earlier this year for fabricating elements of his resume.

The 35-year-old’s tenure was marked by multiple lies about his past and allegations of fraud – all revealed after his election.

Santos had survived two expulsion attempts earlier this year, but there was growing momentum for the latest effort after the House Ethics Committee released a long-awaited report, which concluded that the Republican had “sought to fraudulently exploit every aspect of his House candidacy for his own personal financial profit.”

Among its many allegations, the panel accused him of spending campaign money on Botox treatments, credit card debt, OnlyFans – a platform where users pay for content, including pornography – and trips to the Hamptons seaside enclave in New York.

Still, some Republicans opposed Santos’ expulsion, including nearly all members of the GOP leadership, because he hasn’t been convicted of a crime. Just five lawmakers have ever been removed from the House by an expulsion vote, and three of them fought against the union in the Civil War.

Following the expulsion vote, Santos became just the sixth lawmaker ever to be expelled from the chamber and the first House member to be removed without being convicted of a crime or having supported the Confederacy.

Expulsion votes are rare in Congress and require the backing of two-thirds of the House.

“Kicking out Mr. Santos is setting a very dangerous precedent,” Rep. Troy Nehls, Texas Republican, said ahead of the vote. “Never before has Congress expelled a member based on indictments.”

Santos made a quick exit from the Capitol before Friday’s vote ended as its outcome became clear, rushing past a swarm of reporters and into a waiting SUV.

“As unofficially already no longer a member of Congress, I no longer have to answer a single question from you guys,” he said.

In the days after the release of the ethics committee’s report – which he called “slanderous”, “unprecedented”, and “littered in hyperbole” – Santos had refused to quit, slamming colleagues online and daring them to remove him.

“This place is run on hypocrisy,” he told reporters earlier this week. “If they want me to leave Congress, they’re going to have to take that tough vote.”

With his expulsion, Santos no longer has the ability to vote on legislation or to rely on his government health benefits, and is not eligible for a congressional legislative pension.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has 10 days to call for an election, which will likely take place next February.