In a recent decision by the U.S. House of Representatives, New York's 3rd District Representative, George Santos, was removed from his position. This action marks him as only the sixth member in history to be expelled from the House.
A forthcoming special election will be arranged to find Santos' replacement and to complete his term, expected within the next 70 to 80 days.
The resolution to remove Santos, which required a minimum of 290 votes, was passed with a final count of 311-114. Notably, 105 Republicans were among those who voted in favor of the expulsion.
Prominent Republican leaders in the House, including the newly appointed Speaker Mike Johnson, were among those who opposed the expulsion.
This expulsion is notable as it is the first of its kind since 2002, when Ohio Democrat Jim Traficant was removed following a conviction on federal corruption charges. It's also the first time since the Civil War that a Congressman has been expelled without a preceding felony conviction.
Santos, aged 35, has faced significant criticism for deceptive practices regarding his personal history and achievements, notably in his successful 2022 campaign for a seat left vacant by former Representative Tom Suozzi.
Santos was observed departing the U.S. Capitol Building amidst a crowd of reporters without commenting on the vote, just before the finalization of the decision by Johnson.
This vote represents the third attempt to expel Santos in the past six months, following an extensive investigation by the bipartisan House Ethics Committee. The committee's 56-page report found substantial evidence suggesting Santos had misused campaign funds, defrauded donors, and provided false or incomplete financial disclosures.
The investigation concluded that Santos sought personal financial gain through fraudulent means during his candidacy. It also found his conduct to be damaging to the dignity of his office and discrediting to the House.
Despite these findings, Santos has denied involvement in these issues, placing the blame on his former treasurer, Nancy Marks, who admitted guilt in misreporting campaign finances.
Investigations contradicted Santos' claims, revealing his active involvement in campaign operations and a close relationship with Marks. Additionally, a former campaign aide to Santos, Samuel Miele, also pleaded guilty to related charges earlier this year.