By Kevin Freking | Associated Press
WASHINGTON — A Democratic lawmaker moved Tuesday to force a vote this week on expelling Rep. George Santos from the House, calling it a necessary step if Republicans fail to take action in light of the recent ethics report that found Santos blatantly stole from his campaign and deceived donors.
Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., brought back to the floor legislation he first introduced in February to force the expulsion vote. Republicans were successful in turning aside Garcia’s earlier effort, but now that the Ethics Committee has released its findings about Santos from its monthslong investigation, Garcia said it’s time to act.
“Whatever it takes to get that vote this week, is what we’re doing,” Garcia said.
Expelling Santos, a Republican from New York, would require support from at least two-thirds of House members voting. Garcia said he expects to reach that number easily, which would make Santos just the sixth member of the House to be removed by his colleagues, and only the third since the Civil War.
Santos has rejected any suggestion he step down before an expulsion vote.
“Expel me and set the precedent so we can see who the judge, jury and executioners in Congress are,” Santos said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “The American people deserve to know!”
Santos has survived two prior expulsion votes. The first occurred in May on Garcia’s resolution when the House, at the urging of then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, voted along party lines to refer the matter to the Ethics panel. The second vote occurred earlier this month when fellow New York Republicans sought to distance themselves from their scandal-plagued colleague and forced a vote.
Many who voted against expulsion said it was important to wait on the Ethics panel to complete its investigation.
“In modern times, it is House precedent that Representatives are only expelled after conviction of a felony,” Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif.,…
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