House Ethics Chairman Michael Guest has introduced a resolution to expel Rep. George Santos following the committee’s report on the lawmaker’s alleged misconduct.
The latest expulsion judgment would be the third attempt at removing Mr. Santos from Congress, based on a series of allegations and a recent report from the House Ethics Committee stating that there was “substantial evidence” showing that the New York Republican misused campaign funds, filed false donation reports, and engaged in other fraudulent activities.
Mr. Guest, a Mississippi Republican, stated, “The evidence uncovered in the Ethics Committee’s Investigative Subcommittee investigation is more than sufficient to warrant punishment, and the most appropriate punishment is expulsion. So, separate from the committee process and my role as chairman, I have filed an expulsion resolution.”
A resolution to expel a lawmaker requires a two-thirds majority to advance in the House. A previous attempt to oust Mr. Santos failed when Republicans joined with Democrats to save him. The lawmakers who opposed the expulsion argued that Mr. Santos had not been convicted of any crimes. Additionally, House Republican leadership opposed the move because it would diminish the GOP’s slim four-vote majority.
However, the committee’s report has shifted the stance of some lawmakers who previously voted against the expulsion resolution. So far, seven Republicans, including Mr. Guest, have switched from opposing to supporting an ouster.
SEE ALSO: N.Y. Gov. Hochul says House has a ‘moral responsibility’ to oust Rep. George Santos
Only five members have been forcibly ousted in Congress’ history, two of whom were convicted of crimes, while the other three supported the Confederacy and its rebellion against the U.S.
Mr. Santos is facing a federal indictment alleging fraud and misuse of political donations. The Ethics Committee’s report has suggested further fraud beyond the federal charges and recommended that the lawmaker be referred to the Justice Department.
The committee initiated its investigation into Mr. Santos in February, and the report outlined the extensive efforts involved, including multiple meetings, subpoenas, and requests for information that generated over 172,000 pages of documents related to the lawmaker.
The report released Thursday revealed allegations that Mr. Santos diverted campaign funds for personal purchases and engaged in activities such as OnlyFans.
Specifically, the committee found that Mr. Santos, who denies any wrongdoing, was involved in causing his campaign committee to file false or incomplete reports with the Federal Election Commission, using campaign funds for personal purposes, engaging in fraudulent conduct with an LLC known as RedStone Strategies, and violating the Ethics in Government Act regarding financial disclosure statements filed with the House.
Following the release of the report, Mr. Santos announced that he would not seek reelection.
Responding to the report, Mr. Santos stated, “What the ‘ethics committee’ did [Thursday] was not part of due process. What they did was poison the jury pool on my ongoing investigation with the DOJ. This was a dirty biased act and one that tramples all over my rights.”
• Thomas Howell contributed to this story.
