to a 23-count federal indictment accusing him of crimes including laundering funds to pay for his personal expenses, illegally receiving unemployment benefits and charging donors’ credit cards without their consent.
“I must warn my colleagues that voting for expulsion at this point would circumvent the judicial system’s right to due process that I’m entitled to and desanctify the long-held premise that one is presumed innocent until proven guilty,” Santos said ahead of the vote.have been expelled
from the House in the country’s history, three for fighting against the U.S. government in the Civil War. Expelling the first-term lawmaker would further imperil Republicans’ narrow 221-212 majority, as a replacement would be selected in a special election. Santos represents a small slice of New York City and parts of its eastern suburbs. Nonpartisan election forecasters say Democrats could recapture the seat., but the move was delayed by weeks when the House was leaderless following the ouster of Speaker Kevin McCarthy. headtopics.com
Santos has been ensnared in controversy since shortly after winning election last year, when he was accused of fabricating much of his biography on the campaign trail. The corruption charges against Santos also include reporting a false $500,000 campaign loan and lying to the House about his assets.on Oct. 5 to a conspiracy charge for inflating fundraising numbers.
“Mr. Santos is a stain on this institution and not fit to serve his constituents in the House of Representatives,” Anthony D’Esposito, one of the House Republican lawmakers behind the resolution, said on the House floor. headtopics.com