The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote Friday on whether to expel Republican Rep. George Santos, who faces criminal corruption charges and new campaign spending charges, according to Republican aides.
Several lawmakers filed motions against the first-term congressman after a report by his colleagues suggested that federal prosecutors should bring additional charges against Santos, 35, who fabricated large aspects of his life story in his campaign.
The motion requires a two-thirds majority in the House, which Republicans control by a narrow majority of 222-213 seats.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said party leaders would not tell members how to vote because some believe he should not be expelled before his criminal case is resolved.
“Personally, I have serious reservations about it. I’m worried about the precedent it might set,” he said at a news conference.
Johnson went so far as to say the vote would take place Thursday, but Republican aides, speaking on condition of anonymity, then indicated the vote was scheduled for Friday.
Santos’ district, which includes a small part of New York City and some of its eastern suburbs, is considered competitive in the upcoming election.
On November 16, the Ethics Committee released a report on allegations that Santos committed campaign finance fraud. The report documented a pattern of poor accounting and misuse of campaign funds so widespread that his election “brought into question the integrity of the House.”
Santos had previously pleaded not guilty to federal charges brought by New York prosecutors of laundering campaign funds to pay for personal expenses and charging donors’ credit cards without permission, among other campaign finance violations.
Santos did not respond to a request for comment.
After the report was published, the lawmaker said he would not run again in the 2024 election, but refused to resign before then.
Source: Terra
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