WASHINGTON (CN) — Representative George Santos will live to fight another day after lawmakers overwhelmingly voted Wednesday against an attempt to expel him from the House as he faces a tranche of criminal charges.
Since he was sworn in in January to represent New York’s Third Congressional District, Santos has been mired in controversy. The Republican lawmaker was accused of lying about his background and qualifications while running for office — and has admitted that he falsified his education and employment history.
Since then, things have only gotten more dire for Santos, who has been slapped with two sets of federal charges and is accused of committing a litany of felonies including money laundering and identity theft.
The lawmaker’s most recent indictment, which came down Oct. 10, alleges that, among other things, he and his former campaign treasurer falsely reported contributions to the Federal Election Commission. Santos has pleaded not guilty to the 23-count indictment.
Last month, a cadre of New York Republicans led by Representative Anthony D’Esposito demanded that the lawmaker be removed from Congress.
It’s D’Esposito’s second attempt to boot Santos off Capitol Hill. The congressman made his first attempt earlier this year but couldn’t secure the support of GOP leadership.
On Wednesday, though, D’Esposito’s fortunes had not improved. In a 179-213 vote, the House voted against expelling Santos.
During remarks on the House floor, the New York Republican and longtime Santos critic framed his measure as long overdue justice.
“This is about doing the right thing,” D’Esposito said. “It’s about putting this institution first, and it’s about giving the people of the Third Congressional District the opportunity to be represented.”
Santos, meanwhile, doubled down on his innocence.
“I would like to say that I understand the point of view of my colleagues, but I don’t,” he said, pointing out that he had not yet been found guilty of any alleged crime. “One can’t say that they are pro-Constitution and at the same time act as judge, jury and executioner. Where is the consistency?”
Santos has framed D’Esposito’s effort as a political ploy. In an Oct. 30 post on X, formerly Twitter, the lawmaker shared a fundraising email from his fellow New York Republican which headlined with the expulsion vote.
“Now tell me it’s not political,” Santos wrote.
The last member of Congress to be expelled was former Ohio Democrat Jim Traficant, who was removed from his post in 2002 after he was convicted on criminal charges including bribery, racketeering and tax evasion.
According to House rules, members of Congress who are expelled are not barred from running for office again. Before Wednesday's vote, Santos had said that he plans to run for reelection in 2024.
Also on Wednesday, the House voted to kill a resolution offered by Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene that, if passed, would have censured Representative Rashida Tlaib. Greene had accused the Michigan Democrat of “antisemitic activity” after she spoke at an Oct. 18 protest on Capitol Hill.
The demonstration — organized in part by a Jewish peace advocacy organization — was held to urge lawmakers to support a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas forces who have been in open conflict since Hamas’s Oct. 7 incursion. Thousands of civilians in both Israel and the Palestinian enclave of Gaza have been killed during the hostilities.
A group of 23 Republicans voted to table Greene’s resolution, including Michigan Representatives Bill Huizenga and Tim Walberg. Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie also came out against censuring Tlaib, citing free speech concerns.
Greene raged against her colleagues in a post on X on Wednesday night, calling them “feckless” for refusing to censure Tlaib.
“This is why Republicans never do anything to stop the communists [sic] Democrats or ever hold anyone accountable,” she wrote. “Pathetic.”
The House can vote to censure a lawmaker for conduct the chamber deems unfit for Congress but that does not warrant expulsion. Censure acts as a public humiliation for the offending member, who must stand in the House well as the speaker reads their conduct aloud.
Follow @BenjaminSWeiss
Subscribe to Closing Arguments
Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.
