POLITICS
Rep. George Santos Expelled From Congress
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The House of Representatives on Friday voted 311–114 to expel Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) from Congress after a report from the House Ethics Committee found substantial evidence of campaign fraud.
Santos previously survived two expulsion votes, but the Ethics Committee released the results of its months-long investigation last month, detailing substantial evidence Santos violated federal criminal laws, including using campaign funds on OnlyFans, Botox and luxury goods.
Santos is already facing a variety of federal charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, and making false statements to the House of Representatives. He has pleaded not guilty.
In its report, the Investigative Subcommittee concluded that Santos sought to fraudulently exploit every aspect of his House candidacy for his own personal financial profit.
Representative Santos was frequently in debt, had an abysmal credit score, and relied on an ever-growing wallet of high-interest credit cards to fund his luxury spending habits. He occasionally deposited large amounts of cash that he has never accounted for, moved money between his various bank accounts in a highly suspicious manner, and made over $240,000 cash withdrawals for unknown purposes,” the report stated.
Some of those expenditures included nearly $4,000 on Botox treatments; shopping trips to Sephora, Hermes, Ferragamo; trips to the Hamptons, Atlantic City, and a honeymoon in Las Vegas; rent; and subscriptions on OnlyFans, a social media platform used mainly for pornography. Some $200,000 was simply transferred to his personal bank account.
The Ethics Committee also said Santos refused to cooperate with their investigation, and the answers he did provide included falsehoods.
Since the latest resolution to expel him, Santos has lashed out at colleagues, accusing members during an X Space last week of voting while drunk and cheating on their spouses. On the House floor on Thursday, freshman Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) called Santos a crook, and Santos fired back that Miller is an accused woman beater.
Ahead of the vote, Miller revealed in a letter to colleagues that the Santos campaign charged my personal credit card — and the personal card of my Mother — for contribution amounts that exceeded FEC limits. Neither my Mother nor I approved these charges or were aware of them.
For the time being, Santos retains certain privileges held by former members of Congress, including access to the dining room, gym, cloakroom and House floor. He would lose those privileges if convicted of any of the 23 federal charges he is facing, or if the House moves to change the rules.
“I am prepared to undertake the solemn responsibility of filling the vacancy in New Yorks 3rd District. The people of Long Island deserve nothing less,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul posted Friday on X, formerly Twitter.
Under New York State law, the governor must declare a special election within 10 days, to be held no less than 70 and no more than 80 days later. But that hasn’t always been followed, as in the case of the resignation of Rep. Tom Reed last year.
New York is expecting another House vacancy in February, when Rep. Brian Higgins announced he will be stepping down. It’s possible a single special election could be held to fill both vacancies.
TMX contributed to this article.
