George Santos Dodges Second Expulsion Attempt: House Republicans Remain Divided

The House of Representatives found itself at a crossroads last week as it deliberated the expulsion of Representative George Santos, a self-admitted fabricator currently embroiled in federal criminal charges related to fraudulent financial schemes. The expulsion push, instigated by fellow New York Republicans, has ignited political speculation and division within the GOP.

The path to expel Mr. Santos, through a resolution introduced by Representative Anthony D'Esposito of New York, presents formidable challenges. To secure approval, the resolution necessitates the support of two-thirds of the House lawmakers participating in the vote, assuming all 433 members cast their votes.

Amidst this debate, a letter circulated by a group of first-term Republican Representatives, including Nick LaLota, Anthony D'Esposito, Marcus Molinaro, Brandon Williams, and Mike Lawler, has voiced concerns about expelling Santos before a criminal conviction. Their apprehensions extended to the potential impact on the already slender Republican majority in the House, fueling speculation that this move might be politically motivated.

Detractors have gone further, suggesting that LaLota and others might use this expulsion effort as grandstanding for political gain, seeking to bolster their standing and leverage it for future campaigns. In their letter, the Representatives emphasized, "We agree it would set a precedent, but a positive one," and highlighted that "this issue is not a political issue, but a moral one."

However, this heartfelt plea failed to sway enough of their Republican colleagues, leaving the resolution short of two-thirds support for passage.

The three-page resolution enumerated a range of justifications for Santos's expulsion, including his criminal charges and a series of falsehoods about his background, all disclosed before his election to Congress in November 2022. The resolution's assertion that "George Santos is not fit to serve his constituents as a United States Representative" carries weight, mainly as the resolution is "privileged," necessitating prompt consideration and a subsequent vote by the House.

House Republicans Remain Divided-George Santos (R-NY-3). File Photo

With the Republicans holding an exceedingly narrow majority, Mr. Santos's vote remains pivotal in advancing the party's legislative agenda. The current House Speaker, Mike Johnson, has publicly stated his reluctance to support Santos's removal without due process, further intensifying the political divide within the party.

Moreover, many Congressional members have expressed concerns about setting a dangerous precedent by removing Santos before the conclusion of his criminal proceedings or a report from the House Ethics Committee.

The internal rift within the GOP leadership is also gaining attention, as some senior party members view LaLota and the others as potentially engaging in grandstanding rather than a genuine commitment to ethics and accountability.

Historically, the House of Representatives has grappled with expulsion cases for various reasons, but those who faced expulsion were primarily Democrats found guilty of crimes. Notably, in 1980, Democratic Representative Michael J. Myers of Pennsylvania was expelled after being convicted in the Abscam scandal. In 2002, Democratic Representative James Traficant of Ohio faced expulsion following convictions on ten counts, including bribery, conspiracy to defraud the United States, corruption, obstruction of justice, tax evasion, and racketeering.