Rep. George Santos Survives Second Attempt for Expulsion Despite Facing 23 Federal Charges

Despite votes from 24 Republicans in favor of expulsion, Santos remains due to lack of two-thirds majority support; House Ethics Committee set to divulge next steps in ongoing investigation by mid-November.

Rep. George Santos has survived a second attempt to oust him from Congress despite facing 23 federal charges including fraud-related crimes. A resolution to expel him was voted down 213 to 179. He previously pleaded not guilty in federal court to all the charges.
24 Republicans crossed party lines to vote in favor of expelling Santos, while 31 Democrats opposed the measure. However, the motion needed a two-thirds majority to pass and did not reach this threshold.
In addition to the pending federal charges, Santos is also under investigation by a bipartisan House Ethics Committee, expected to reveal the next steps of their inquiry by mid-November.
Several fellow Republican colleagues led the resolution to remove Santos, who is accused of defrauding donors, wire fraud, identity theft, and falsifying records to the Federal Election Commission. However, his trial is set to begin only in September 2024.
Santos continues to proclaim his innocence and claims the attempts to expel him are politically motivated. He has warned that evicting him would set a dangerous precedent, arguing that everyone is entitled to due process and presumed innocent until proven guilty.