Topline
Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) could go nan sixth personnel of Congress to beryllium expelled from nan House of Representatives this week, arsenic lawmakers are expected to return action connected a solution to region him—a uncommon measurement that could costs Republicans a spot successful their constrictive majority.
U.S. Rep. George Santos (R-NY) walks retired of a national courthouse successful Long Island connected October 27 aft ... [+] pleading not blameworthy to 10 fraud-related charges. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesKey Facts
Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-N.Y.) introduced a measurement past week to eject Santos, who has been charged pinch 23 national fraud-related felonies, utilizing a “privileged” solution that requires Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to bypass nan committee process and bring nan measurement to nan level for a vote, action that could travel arsenic soon arsenic Wednesday.
The solution needs support from two-thirds of members to walk nan House—if it succeeds, it would make Santos nan 3rd personnel to beryllium expelled since nan Civil War and only nan 2nd to beryllium ejected without having been convicted of a crime.
Rep. James Traficant (D-Ohio) is nan astir caller personnel of Congress to beryllium expelled successful 2002, erstwhile each but 1 personnel of nan House voted to eject him aft he was convicted of 10 corruption-related felonies accusing him of requiring his staffers to salary him and do different jobs extracurricular of their legislature duties successful speech for employment.
Traficant was only nan 2nd personnel expelled since nan Civil War: nan first, Rep. Michael “Ozzie” Myers (D-Pa.), was booted from nan House successful a 376-30 ballot successful 1980 aft he was convicted of taking bribes from undercover FBI agents (Myers was sentenced to 30 months successful situation successful September past twelvemonth aft he was convicted successful a multi-year ballot-stuffing strategy designed to thief elite Democrats).
In 1861, nan House expelled Henry Burnett (D-Ky.), a Confederate Army colonel, for aiding a rebellion and backing secession, and it ejected Confederate brigadier wide John Clark (D-Mo.) and John Reid (D-Mo.), an adjutant to a Confederate general, for taking up arms against nan government.
Contra
“I will not request for my law rights,” Santos tweeted Monday, adding “I will fto my colleagues make their determination without my interference. God bless you each and God bless nan United States of America!”
What To Watch For
The House Ethics Committee will springiness an update connected its investigation into Santos by November 17, Chair Michael Guest (R-Miss.) and ranking personnel Susan Wild (D-Pa.) said Tuesday, adding that nan committee and its investigators person spent “countless hours” and “a important amount” of resources connected nan probe. The Ethics Committee’s announcement could connection Republicans who are against expelling him a fall-back for tabling nan solution and sending it to committee, arsenic nan House did successful May erstwhile Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) introduced a privileged solution to eject Santos.
What We Don’t Know
While aggregate Republican members of Congress person called connected Santos to beryllium expelled aliases resign, it’s unclear if nan solution has nan votes needed to eject him. Johnson has suggested nan measurement is premature since Santos hasn’t been convicted of a crime. Republicans consequence losing a spot successful their slim 222-212 mostly if they region Santos, who flipped his Long Island territory from reddish to bluish successful nan 2022 midterm election.
Key Background
Santos was indicted successful May connected 13 national counts, including fraud and money laundering, for allegedly utilizing run donations for individual expenses, including in installments paper debts and designer clothing, according to prosecutors. He was besides charged successful May pinch applying for unemployment benefits while earning a $120,000 salary. In a superseding indictment past month, Santos was deed pinch 10 further felonies, including ligament fraud and conspiracy, aft national prosecutors accused him of stealing his donors’ identities and utilizing their in installments cards to make unauthorized money transfers to his campaign, his slope relationship and different candidates’ campaigns. The charges travel aft Santos was accused of a vast lying scheme successful news reports soon aft he was elected successful November, alleging he fabricated ample portions of his individual and master background, including his ties to 9/11 and nan 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting, his Jewish religion and a profession connected Wall Street. Santos has pleaded not blameworthy to each 23 charges and has revenge to tally for re-election adjacent year.
Further Reading
George Santos Pleads Not Guilty To Misusing Donors’ Credit Cards (Forbes)
George Santos Indicted On Ten Additional Charges And Accused Of Stealing Donors’ Identities (Forbes)
Here Are The Allegations Against George Santos, Indicted On Fraud Charges (Forbes)
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