The House on Friday voted to expel embattled Republican Rep. George Santos from Congress, bringing an end to a tumultuous tenure in Washington that was defined by scandal from the start.
In their third attempt since May to oust Representative George Santos, House lawmakers voted 311 to 114 in favor of the expulsion resolution. Notably, 105 Republicans joined in support of the resolution. Two Democrats voted against expelling Santos, while two members voted present, and eight members did not vote. The resolution required a two-thirds majority to pass. Santos left the House chamber during the vote.
Following the vote, Speaker Mike Johnson announced that the clerk would notify the governor of the state of New York about the House’s action. New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, stated on social media that she is prepared to undertake the responsibility of filling the vacancy created by Santos’ removal, and she emphasized that the people of Long Island deserve a proper representation. Under state law, Governor Hochul has up to 10 days to call a special election for the vacant seat, and it must be scheduled within 70 to 80 days from the governor’s order. on Friday voted
By Friday afternoon, the locks on the doors to Santos’ congressional office had been changed, and his House website was removed. A sign outside his former office now indicates it as the “Office of the Third Congressional District of New York.”
The decision to expel Santos came after a damning report from the House Ethics Committee two weeks prior, which found “substantial evidence” that Santos had repeatedly violated the law. Santos is facing nearly two dozen federal charges related to alleged fraud and the illegal use of campaign funds. The report revealed that Santos had misrepresented his biography to secure his seat in Congress.