“Expulsion On the Horizon? 6 GOP Lawmakers Target Scandal-Ridden Rep. George Santos

Six GOP Lawmakers Want to Expel Scandal-Plagued Rep. George Santos In light of the ongoing scandal surrounding Congressman George Santos, six Republican lawmakers have called for his expulsion from the House of Representatives. Santos is under investigation by the Office of Congressional Ethics for allegedly accepting payments to use his office for personal gain. The bill introduced by the six lawmakers seeks to expel Santos, often referred to as the “Carpetbagger,” from the House for his “acknowledged misuse of public office.” The bill also seeks to bar him from running for a federal office in the future. It notes that the House of Representatives holds its members to the highest ethical standards and per Congress’ rules, failure to meet such standards is grounds for expulsion from Congress. The six lawmakers behind the bill include Representatives Adam Smith (case CA-9), Tom Emmer (MN-6), Leonard Lance (NJ-7), Ted Budd (NC-13), David Joyce (OH-08), and Dennis Ross (FL-15). Santos has been plagued by scandal since his election in 2018. He is under investigation for allegedly accepting payments totaling $200,000 from a business in exchange for using his congressional office to advance certain legislative initiatives. The investigation by the Office of Congressional Ethics came shortly after the release of documents showing that he had placed numerous orders in the House cloakroom for personal items. Santos has denied all of the allegations and maintains his innocence. He has yet to be formally charged with any wrongdoing. The bill by the six GOP lawmakers has yet to be put to a vote. It is unclear when or if it will be taken up for consideration or if the House of Representatives will pursue other avenues of discipline against the Congressman. Their effort highlights the importance of Congress maintaining ethical standards and imposing harsher punishments on those who violate them. Ultimately, it will remain up to Congress to decide the fate of Rep. George Santos.