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REPORT: Republican To Be EXPELLED From Congress This Week

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12 months ago

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Nearly 90 House Republicans are set to support the expulsion of Representative George Santos (R-NY) from Congress this week according to an internal whip count. This indicates a near-certain exit for the indicted lawmaker, despite his firm stance against resignation, Politico reports.

Santos, in a defiant address on Tuesday, questioned the validity of the expulsion process. He argued that the current efforts undermine the established due process and dangerously shift the norms of congressional governance.

“In history, five members of Congress have been expelled,” Santos stated. “All five had suffered convictions in a court. All five had due process. This expulsion vote simply undermines and underscores the precedent that we’ve had in this chamber. It starts and puts us in a new direction, a dangerous one that sets a very dangerous precedent for the future.”

The House is preparing for a vote on the potential expulsion of Santos, who has been embroiled in numerous controversies since his election. This follows Santos’ first federal indictment in May 2023, where he maintained his innocence against all charges.

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On November 16, 2023, the House Committee on Ethics published a comprehensive 56-page report outlining the charges against Santos. The report concluded that he prioritized personal interests over his ethical obligations as a public servant. The findings of the House Ethics Committee’s investigation indicated significant evidence of illegal activities, leading Santos to anticipate the possibility of being removed from Congress.

“The process in which the Ethics Committee engaged was incomplete, irresponsible, and littered with hyperbole and biased opinions,” Santos said.

Santos’s concerns resonate with some Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who had also voiced his reservations about the expulsion. “I said that the Republican Party is the rule of law team, and we are. We believe in the rule of law. There are people of good faith who make an argument both pro and con for the expulsion resolution for Santos.”

“I personally have real reservations about doing this. I’m concerned about a precedent that may be set for that,” Johnson said.

The Republican leadership, while acknowledging the gravity of the allegations, has chosen not to whip the vote, allowing members to vote according to their conscience. The U.S. House of Representatives has expelled members five times in its history. These expulsions were due to serious offenses and are as follows:

  • John B. Clark (Missouri) and John W. Reid (Missouri), 1861: Both were expelled for taking up arms against the Union during the Civil War.
  • Henry C. Burnett (Kentucky), 1861: Similarly, Burnett was expelled for supporting the Confederacy during the Civil War.
  • Michael Myers (Pennsylvania), 1980: Myers was expelled after being convicted of bribery, conspiracy, and travel act violations in the Abscam scandal, a high-profile FBI sting operation that targeted political corruption.
  • James Traficant (Ohio), 2002: Traficant was expelled after being convicted on charges of bribery, racketeering, and tax evasion. He was only the second member to be expelled since the Civil War.

“George Santos is toast,” Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) remarked while entering a whip meeting on Tuesday evening.”

Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY) explained, “For many members, I predict most Republican members, that time for process is behind us. We expect there to be a sufficient number of yes votes come Thursday.” As the House prepares to vote, the Republican stance remains a balance between upholding legal standards and addressing the infractions against the House itself.



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