The Republican motion to refer the bill was approved with a vote of 221–204, primarily along party lines, as all Republicans voted in favor. All five Democrats on the Ethics Committee essentially abstained by voting “present.”
The privileged resolution was introduced by Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), who attempted to force a vote on the issue, increasing the pressure on House Republicans to take action against the disgraced Republican.
Santos, who’s a first-term Republican, was charged with 13 federal crimes and arrested on May 10. He was released shortly thereafter and maintains his innocence.
“George Santos is a fraud and a liar, and he needs to be expelled by the House.”
He went on to cite the charges against Santos, saying they should have been the “final straw” for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
“Fortunately, justice is blind in our country, and everyone is innocent until proven guilty,” he said.
“Regrettably so[,] Rep. Garcia and the Democrats are playing the roles of [biased] judge and jury. Expelling me is silencing 145k+ voters who sent me here to represent them and taking the voice away from 700k people.”
To pass the resolution and remove Santos from Congress, the measure would have needed a two-thirds majority vote, which would have required significant bipartisan support.
The 13-count indictment against Santos, unsealed on May 10, charged the congressman with defrauding prospective political supporters by laundering funds to pay for his personal expenses and illegally receiving unemployment benefits while employed.
Prosecutors also allege that he made false statements to the House of Representatives regarding his assets, income, and liabilities.
“This indictment seeks to hold Santos accountable for various alleged fraudulent schemes and brazen misrepresentations,” U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace said in a statement.
When asked about the expulsion of Santos shortly after the resolution was introduced, McCarthy said he would like to refer the issue to the House Ethics Committee.
The House speaker also reiterated previous comments that there’s “a process” and that Santos, like other lawmakers who have been accused of crimes, is considered innocent until proven guilty.