Congress Makes Historic Move by Expelling Rep. George Santos

Rep. George Santos, a New York Republican who won the​ election last fall on what was later revealed to be a largely fabricated biography, today became only the ‍sixth ⁤member of the House of Representatives ever to be expelled from Congress.

Following the release of a damning report from the‌ GOP-led House Ethics Committee last month, nearly half of Republicans joined with all but a handful of ‌Democrats to oust Mr. Santos‌ Friday. Notably, ⁣the​ GOP leadership, including the ⁢new House speaker, all voted⁣ against expulsion.

Why We Wrote This

In only⁢ the sixth expulsion ever from the U.S. House,⁣ the issue was not just‍ ethical concerns around Mr. Santos’ ⁢conduct, but also how expelling someone prior to a criminal ⁤conviction could undermine Congress as an institution.

Many Republicans argued⁤ Mr. Santos should have his day in court, and that‌ expelling him prior to conviction would set a dangerous precedent. He has been indicted on a range of charges including conspiracy, wire fraud, theft of public money, and fraudulent application for‌ and receipt of unemployment benefits.

Mr. Santos’ conduct presented a test for his Republican⁢ colleagues, who have been struggling to govern with a narrow majority, now⁣ down⁣ to just eight seats. The audacity of his made-for-reality-TV story seemed to many a new low at a time of widespread public distrust in the institution.

“Today was a solemn day,” Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest, a Mississippi‍ Republican⁢ who sponsored​ the expulsion resolution, told the Monitor. “I don’t think anyone⁢ takes any joy in having to vote to expel a fellow member.”