Thomas d’Esperies, Editor-in-Chief
December 5, 2023
Ex-congressman George Santos (R-NY03) has become just the sixth representative to be expelled from the U.S. House of Representatives in a historic vote on December first, 2023. Santos’ run in the house has been plagued in controversy after being caught in a web of lies. Friday’s successful vote was the third attempt by house Democrats to expel Santos from his seat in New York’s third Congressional District.
The expulsion resolution was backed by house Democrats and about half of the republican majority. The final count was 311 to 114. 206 house Democrats and 105 house Republicans voted in favor while the opposition consisted of 114 Republicans and 2 Democrats. Santos allegedly told reporters “To hell with this place” as he quickly left the Capital before the vote ended.
Santos, who over his short experiment with politics invented ties to the Holocaust, September 11th, and the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting, is the subject of a 23-count federal indictment. Santos also faces a growing number of federal charges and, as of December 5th, faces up to 22 years in federal prison. A trial date is set for September 2024 on Long Island and his next court date is December 12th.
Santos is the first member of congress who has not been convicted of a crime to be expelled. In the history of the United States, 21 members of Congress have been expelled. 17 of these were convicted of treason for supporting the Confederacy. Three have been convicted of other crimes. The last, being Santos.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has five more days to call for a special election to fill Santos’ empty seat. Following that, the election must occur within an 80 day period.