WASHINGTON (AP) — A resolution to expel Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., from Congress was referred to the House Ethics Committee on Wednesday, as Republicans successfully fended off an effort to compel him to vote that could have reduced his four already thin. – majority of seats.
The House voted along party lines, 221-204, to refer the matter to the ethics panel, with Santos himself joining his GOP colleagues in voting to do so.
The freshman congressman has been accused of embezzling campaign money, falsely receiving unemployment benefits and lying to Congress about his finances. He has denied the charges and pleaded not guilty.
Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., introduced a resolution in February to expel Santos, something the House has done only twice in recent decades. He tried to force a vote on that resolution in a process that left three options for Republicans: a vote on the resolution, a table move, or a referral to committee.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy chose the third option, to the chagrin of Democrats who described it as a “complete walkout.” They noted that the ethics committee is already investigating Santos and that it was time for members of the Republican House who have called for Santos’ resignation to back up their words with actions.
“It’s simply an effort for Republicans to avoid having to take an up or down vote on whether or not George Santos belongs here,” said Rep. Dan Goldman, DN.Y.
Democrats asked Republican lawmakers in New York for support. Many have been highly critical of Santos and face the prospect of Democrats trying to tie them to Santos in next year’s general election.
“I am telling you that if you vote to refer this motion to the Ethics Committee, you are complicit in the fraud of George Santos and you are voting to ensure that he remains a member of Congress,” Goldman said.
Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, RN.Y., made the motion to refer the expulsion resolution to the ethics court. He said he was personally in favor of Santos’ expulsion, but added that “unfortunately” there were not enough votes to reach the necessary two-thirds threshold.
“I strongly believe that this is the fastest way to rid the House of Representatives of this scourge on government,” D’Esposito said.
Republican leaders have said Santos deserves his day in court before Congress weighs in. The position Republican leaders have taken generally follows the precedent Congress has set in similar criminal cases over the years. The House has expelled only two members in recent decades, and both votes came after the lawmaker had been convicted of federal charges.
The Justice Department often asks the ethics committee to halt its investigations when a member of Congress has been indicted, but there has been no such announcement by the committee regarding Santos.
