House Republicans Introduce Resolution to Expel Rep. George Santos

A group of House Republicans from New York is taking action to remove Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., from Congress. Rep. Anthony D'Esposito, R-N.Y., is spearheading the expulsion resolution, considering Santos "a stain" on the House and on New York state. The resolution will be co-sponsored by fellow New York House Republicans Nick LaLota, Mike Lawler, Marc Molinaro, Nick Langworthy, and Brandon Williams. This move comes after federal prosecutors issued a 23-count superseding indictment against Santos, alleging identity theft, fraud, and other offenses.

The allegations against Santos are serious. He has been accused of committing identity theft, fraud, and misusing campaign donations for personal expenses, including designer clothes. The indictment also revealed that Santos had applied for pandemic unemployment benefits while earning a substantial salary. Furthermore, Santos is facing charges of falsifying campaign donations and making unauthorized charges on his donors' credit cards.

Santos has pleaded not guilty to the original charges and plans to fight the allegations. He has referred to the charges as a "witch hunt" and has refused to resign. However, the mounting evidence against him has led House Democrats to call for his resignation, and now, House Republicans are seeking to expel him from the House.

Expelling Santos would require a two-thirds vote of the entire House. Previously, House Republicans blocked a Democratic effort to expel Santos and referred the matter to the House Ethics Committee for investigation. However, with the new charges and the support of several New York House Republicans, the likelihood of expulsion may increase.

The New York Times published an investigation that questioned the authenticity of Santos' resume, including claims of property ownership, previous employment, and education. Santos admitted to "embellishing" parts of his background but denied any criminal activity. It remains to be seen how these revelations will impact the expulsion proceedings.

It is worth noting that the lack of a permanent House speaker adds complications to the expulsion proceedings. Republican lawmakers have selected Rep. Steve Scalise as their nominee for House speaker, but he may face a lengthy floor battle to reach a majority. The timeline for electing a new House speaker is uncertain for House Republicans, as they navigate the expulsion process.

In conclusion, a group of House Republicans from New York is introducing a resolution to expel Rep. George Santos from Congress. The resolution comes in response to the serious charges brought against Santos, including identity theft, fraud, and misusing campaign donations. Santos has pleaded not guilty and refused to resign, but the mounting evidence and support for his expulsion may lead to his removal from the House. The lack of a permanent House speaker further complicates the proceedings.