House refers Rep. Santos expulsion resolution to ethics panel.

House of Representatives Votes to Refer Resolution to Expel Rep. George Santos to Ethics Committee

The House of Representatives made a significant move on May 17 by voting to refer a resolution to expel Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) to the Ethics Committee. Despite a concerted push to remove the lawmaker because of his alleged crimes, the Republican motion to refer the bill was approved with a vote of 221–204, primarily along party lines, as all Republicans voted in favor. All five Democrats on the Ethics Committee essentially abstained by voting “present.”

Resolution Introduced by Rep. Robert Garcia

The privileged resolution was introduced by Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), who attempted to force a vote on the issue, increasing the pressure on House Republicans to take action against the disgraced Republican. Santos, who’s a first-term Republican, was charged with 13 federal crimes and arrested on May 10. He was released shortly thereafter and maintains his innocence.

Garcia Calls on Republicans to Take Action Against Santos

Garcia called on Republicans to take action against Santos after introducing the resolution, writing in a Twitter post: “I’m starting the process of forcing a floor vote on our resolution to expel George Santos from the U.S. House of Representatives. Republicans will now have a chance to demonstrate to the American people that an admitted liar and criminal should not serve in Congress. George Santos is a fraud and a liar, and he needs to be expelled by the House.”

Santos Reacts to the News

Santos reacted to the news in a statement shared by Punchbowl’s Mica Soellner. “Fortunately, justice is blind in our country, and everyone is innocent until proven guilty,” he said. “Regrettably so[,] Rep. Garcia and the Democrats are playing the roles of [biased] judge and jury. Expelling me is silencing 145k+ voters who sent me here to represent them and taking the voice away from 700k people.”

Resolution is Privileged

Garcia’s resolution is privileged, which means that according to the House Rules and Precedents, the Republican-controlled House was forced to take it up within the next two congressional days. To pass the resolution and remove Santos from Congress, the measure would have needed a two-thirds majority vote, which would have required significant bipartisan support.

Charges Against Santos

The 13-count indictment against Santos, unsealed on May 10, charged the congressman with defrauding prospective political supporters by laundering funds to pay for his personal expenses and illegally receiving unreported campaign contributions. The charges should have been the “final straw” for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), according to Garcia.

Conclusion

The House of Representatives’ decision to refer the resolution to expel Rep. George Santos to the Ethics Committee is a significant move in the ongoing saga surrounding the disgraced Republican. With the resolution being privileged, it remains to be seen whether Santos will be removed from Congress, but the charges against him are serious and should not be taken lightly.