George Santos expulsion spurs rare bipartisanship among House lawmakers
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Rep. George Santos. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images.
House Democrats and Republicans finally have something they agree on: booting Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) from Congress.
Driving the news: In an email sent to Democratic congressional offices on Thursday, Rep. Robert Garcia's (D-Calif.) office advocated for Republicans' resolution to expel the embattled Long Islander.
- "Rep. Garcia strongly believes Rep. Santos's actions and behavior do not reflect credibly on the House and tarnishes this institution we love and encourages a YES vote tomorrow," the email said.
Driving the news: Garcia and Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday forced a vote on a resolution to expel Santos on Tuesday following the release of an Ethics Committee report that detailed a "complex web" of his alleged criminal wrongdoing.
- Rep. Anthony D'Esposito (R-N.Y.) followed suit later that day by forcing a vote on an expulsion resolution introduced by Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest (R-Miss.).
- The vote on Guest's resolution is expected on Friday. Virtually all Democrats and many Republicans are expected to vote for it – likely enough for it to pass.
The backdrop: Even though Santos is disliked by lawmakers in both parties, efforts to remove him have frequently been marked by partisan distrust.
- The New York Republicans who most want to see Santos gone all voted to table an expulsion resolution forced by Garcia in May, saying they would allow the Ethics Committee to complete its work.
- When those Republicans forced a vote on expulsion earlier this month, they refused to give Goldman time to speak on the floor after the Democrat blasted them for their votes in May.
The bottom line: Following the release of the Ethics Committee report, Santos' detractors in both parties became desperate to see him gone by any means necessary.
- "Our vote was always about forcing their vote," said Garcia, saying he didn't care whether it was a Republican or Democratic measure.
- "We should do the right thing regardless of whose name is on it," said Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.).
