Speaking with journalists including CNN’s Manu Raju, New York Republicans expressed confidence in a proposal to expel Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) from Congress. Santos has faced multiple indictments on allegations like fraud, which followed extensive reporting that revealed an evident history of intensive lying about wide-ranging elements of his personal and professional background.
“I think we’re getting two-thirds,” Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) said. “There seems to be a good sentiment out there that enough is enough.” Two-thirds of the House would have to back the proposal for expelling Santos for the measure to pass. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), the new House Speaker, does not support the proposal for Santos’ expulsion, which could help set the tone for votes on the question by many — but, critically, not all — House Republicans.
Santos, predictably, has been defiant, resisting demands for his exit, including those from his district. Polling in that district, which mostly covers portions of Long Island in New York, already suggests Santos would come nowhere near another term if he was on ballots next year.
Also recently promoted in the House were dueling proposals for the censure of Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.). On its own, censure would come with much less real-world consequence than the push for expelling Santos. All three of these proposals could very quickly go to a vote.
Santos hasn’t really done much in terms of policy across the months of his term. (It’s not been a year.) He’s largely just joined the ranks of other generally reliable (for the GOP) Republican votes in ideological disputes in Congress. He has sponsored dozens of pieces of proposed legislation, only one of which it appears has ever gotten a co-sponsor — though Santos did get a spending amendment approved by the House in September. The underlying bill, which deals with funding for the Department of Homeland Security and was passed by the House, remains in limbo without Senate approval so far.
New York Rs believe they are close to 2/3 needed to make George Santos just the 6th House member ever expelled.
“I understand the hesitance, but this is a clear case of an individual who used every lie and misdeed in order to attain the very office that he holds,” Molinaro said pic.twitter.com/IJTbg29i6r— Manu Raju (@mkraju) October 30, 2023
