FILE – U.S. Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., speaks to reporters outside the Capitol, in Washington, May 17, 2023. Santos, charged with a host of financial crimes, including embezzling money from his campaign, withdrew $85,000 from his campaign to help repay hundreds of thousands of dollars he loaned himself to get elected in 2022. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

House Ethics Committee Files Resolution to Force Vote on Expelling Rep. George Santos

The chairman of the House Ethics Committee announced Friday he has filed a resolution to force a vote on expelling Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., from Congress. This comes one day after the committee issued a report detailing substantial evidence of Santos converting campaign donations for his own personal use.

Scandal-Plagued Santos Relinquishes Re-Election Bid

Despite easily surviving an expulsion vote earlier this month, Rep. George Santos has announced he will not seek re-election following the release of the Ethics Committee’s findings. Santos is currently facing nearly two dozen charges in federal court.

Republican Representative Supports Expulsion

Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss., expressed his support for expulsion, stating that the evidence uncovered in the Ethics Committee’s investigation justifies this severest form of punishment.

Committee Refers Findings to Justice Department

The Ethics Committee has referred its findings to the Justice Department, potentially providing new evidence for the federal charges against Santos. The committee opted to expedite the process rather than going through a lengthy formal recommendation to the House.

High Bar for Expulsion Requires Two-Thirds Vote

Expulsion from the House of Representatives requires a two-thirds vote, a punitive measure that has occurred only five times in the chamber’s history. The most recent expulsion took place in 2002 following a conviction on federal charges.

Santos Denounces the Committee’s Report

Rep. Santos criticized the Ethics Committee’s report as a “disgusting politicized smear” in a tweet. He plans to hold a press conference on the Capitol steps on November 30, prior to the expulsion vote.

Investigative Panel’s Damaging Allegations

The investigative panel uncovered damning allegations against Santos, including the use of campaign funds for personal expenses such as stays in Atlantic City and the Hamptons, as well as a Botox treatment at a local spa. Santos was uncooperative with the investigation, refusing to testify or provide a statement under oath.

Federal Indictment Adds to Santos’ Legal Troubles

In addition to the ethics investigation, Rep. Santos faces a 23-count federal indictment. The indictment accuses him of stealing campaign donors’ identities and making unauthorized charges on their credit cards. The congressman has pleaded not guilty to these charges.

Fake Loan and Misrepresentation to FEC

The indictment further alleges that Santos falsely reported to the Federal Election Commission that he had loaned his campaign $500,000. In reality, he had not made any loan and had less than $8,000 in his bank account. The fake loan was an attempt to deceive Republican Party officials into providing financial support.