Defiant Representative George Santos asserted in his final defence of his House seat that he was the target of a slander campaign by certain colleagues. In addition, he declared that he would not resign until Friday’s vote on his expulsion.
The Republican congressman from New York, who is currently serving his first term in office, might become the sixth member of the House to lose his seat. Despite having been saved from expulsion twice before, more members now believe that Santos’s acts warrant the harshest penalty the House can impose, according to a devastating report released on November 16 by the House Ethics Committee.
During the House floor debate on Thursday afternoon, Santos said, “I will not stand by quietly.” ” I came here thanks to the residents of New York’s Third District. You’re going to have to calm those people and accept the outcome of the hard vote if they want me gone.
Three House members had already been expelled for their treasonous efforts against the Union during the Civil War, and two more members had been removed after being found guilty in federal court. Santos made an appeal to lawmakers who are concerned about creating a new standard for the worst penalty in the House.
In a press conference held early in the morning, Santos stated, “This will haunt them in the future, where mere allegations are sufficient to have members removed from office when duly elected by their people in their respective states and districts.” This was before the House discussion started.
Read More
After helping the Republicans seize control of the House in November 2022 by unseating a Democratic-held seat, Santos proved to be a shining spot for the party. But soon after, rumours circulated that Santos was lying about his Jewish ancestry, his college degree, and his employment at prestigious Wall Street firms. He became an embarrassment to his party and a diversion.
The House Ethics Committee declared at the beginning of March that it would start looking into Santos. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York then made a 13-count federal indictment public; however, the 23-count indictment eventually outweighed it.
According to the indictment, he made thousands of dollars in unauthorised purchases using the credit cards of campaign donors that he had stolen their identities for. Santos, who has entered a not guilty plea, is charged by federal prosecutors with utilising some of the funds to fund his personal bank account and using the remainder to pay for his campaign expenditures.
Investigators from the Ethics Committee worked on the Santos investigation for eight months during this time. The panel claimed to have gathered and forwarded to the Justice Department “overwhelming evidence” of Santos’s legal infractions. The panel came to the conclusion that Santos had filed fraudulent financial disclosure statements, utilised campaign funds for personal gain, and filed incomplete or misleading reports with the Federal Election Commission with knowledge of having violated the Ethics in Government Act.
Read More
Santos was aware of the unfavourable implications associated with evicting someone. But instead of trying to flee by quitting, he tried to portray it as an unjust persecution, claiming that “if I leave, they win.” When I look away, the bullies come after me. This is bullying; that much is clear.
The Republican delegates from New York led the case in favour of removing Santos. Though he acknowledged that the expulsion would create a new precedent, Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, R-N.Y., expressed confidence that the American people would accept members being held to a higher standard.
“I hope that tomorrow in this magnificent chamber we set that precedent, as I’m very sure that’s what the American people demand,” added D’Esposito. “I have a good feeling that the American people would cheer that.”
Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., urged against expulsion despite his respect for the Ethics Committee, stating his dissatisfaction with the way the Santos matter was handled. He expressed his concern that a Republican-led committee would present such a well-known and unfavourable report.
Higgins stated, “The circumstances as a whole seem biassed.” “This is a political move, and I will fight it at all costs.”
Even though the chair of the Ethics Committee is a Republican, the members are evenly divided. The committee’s top Democrat, Rep. Susan Wild, reminded the attendees that the investigators’ findings received unanimous approval.
Wild said, “Mr. Santos has repeatedly, egregiously, and brazenly violated the public’s trust, as the Ethics Committee’s report lays out in thorough detail.” It is not a victim, Mr. Santos. He is the mastermind behind a huge scam perpetrated against the American people and his allies.
Read More
Santos blasted the Ethics Committee’s findings during his news conference, saying they were “littered in hyperbole, littered in opinion.” He underlined the committee’s determination to present the findings to the House, but he did not offer any recommendations for action. A longer, trial-like process would have been necessary in order to offer a recommendation. “It seems like it’s all fair play, setting a new standard for me,” Santos commented.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, said he had “true reservations” about Santos’s resignation. He acknowledged that the GOP leadership is advising members to “vote their conscience,” but he was concerned about the precedent that would be established.
Hakeem Jeffries, the leader of the Democratic Party in New York, conducted his weekly press conference in the House chamber under a life-size portrait of Santos grinning with Georgian Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.
According to Jeffries, “George Santos is a malignant distraction, and that issue gets resolved.” Hopefully.
Farnoush Amiri, a staff writer for the Associated Press, helped with this report.
Share this content:
One Comment