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U.S. Representative George Santos (R-NY) walks outside the Central Islip Federal Courthouse on the day of his hearing, in Central Islip, New York, U.S., October 27, 2023.
(Updated Dec. 1) Mendacious NY Representative George Santos was expelled from the House of Representatives on Friday, by a vote of 311 to 114, with two members voting “present.” Republicans had thus far been unwilling to risk their slim House majority to expel Rep. George Santos (R-NY) despite his purported lies about … pretty much everything, but an Ethics Committee report alleging extensive financial malfeasance did the trick.
The report found “substantial evidence” that Santos used campaign donations and credit card numbers stolen from donors to fund, among other expenses, luxury shopping trips, plastic surgery, casino vacations, and purchases on OnlyFans, a website where people sell sexually explicit photos and videos. He’s now facing 23 federal charges.
The House had never expelled a member in advance of a criminal conviction, and Santos survived two votes thanks to GOP members who felt keeping him in their thin majority was worth the embarrassment. But with the 2024 election approaching, Republicans worried that backing an alleged scammer wasn’t the best look, even if it means decreasing the GOP's narrow majority in the House.
“It’s especially pertinent for the New York Republicans who are trying to hold onto seats they won by slim margins in 2022,” said Eurasia Group analyst Noah Daponte-Smith. “They really don't want to be saddled with Santos and have been leading the expulsion push.”
Asked for comment after the vote, Santos said “to hell with this place” and then refused to answer further questions from reporters, claiming that he was no longer obliged as he was no longer a Congressperson.