Title: House Democrats Seek Vote to Expel Rep. George Santos Amid Corruption Charges
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Two House Democratic lawmakers are pushing for a vote to expel Republican Representative George Santos, who is facing corruption charges following his election in 2022. In a move known as a “privileged resolution,” the Democrats are aiming for a two-thirds majority in the Republican-controlled House.
Santos, who represents a competitive district that includes part of New York City, has been the target of previous expulsion attempts earlier this year. Democratic Representatives Robert Garcia and Dan Goldman introduced resolutions to expel Santos, but the measures were referred to the House Ethics Committee.
Despite surviving a previous vote on November 1, Santos now faces renewed efforts for his expulsion. The Ethics Committee’s own motion to expel him followed a scathing report documenting a pattern of poor bookkeeping and misuse of campaign funds, which raised concerns about the integrity of Santos’ election.
Santos, who previously pleaded not guilty to federal charges of campaign finance violations, including money laundering and unauthorized use of donors’ credit cards, now faces additional scrutiny. The Ethics Committee has referred evidence of potential criminal prosecution to the Justice Department.
The committee’s report further revealed lavish spending of campaign money on luxury items and subscriptions to the adult entertainment platform OnlyFans, which is primarily known for its sexually explicit content. These revelations have added fuel to the calls for Santos’ expulsion.
Notably, some Republican lawmakers who previously voted against Santos’ expulsion have indicated that they may reconsider their stance. As the House has not yet scheduled a vote on either of the new motions, the fate of Representative George Santos remains uncertain.
If the expulsion vote succeeds, Santos would become the sixth lawmaker in history to be ousted from the House through a vote. As the Democratic lawmakers intensify their efforts, the integrity and accountability of the House of Representatives are being closely scrutinized, making this a significant development in the ongoing fight against corruption in politics.
