George Santos, the New York Republican accused of multiple crimes, was removed from the House on Friday. This makes him only the sixth lawmaker ever forcibly removed from the chamber. The dramatic vote followed allegations in the media and a House Ethics Committee report that Santos had fabricated much of his biography, defrauded donors, and spent campaign money on a lavish lifestyle, including Botox injections, personal travel, and subscriptions to OnlyFans.
Previously, two attempts to remove Santos had failed. However, a scathing House Ethics Committee report shifted the votes, leading to Santos’ expulsion with a vote of 311 to 114, with 105 Republicans joining nearly every Democrat in voting to expel Santos.
Despite denying any wrongdoing, Santos was removed, and Republican leaders declined to urge their colleagues to vote for or against Santos’ removal. Speaker Mike Johnson allowed Republicans to “vote their conscience,” and the rare expulsion represents a significant event in Congressional history.