George Santos on the Verge of Expulsion from Congress: Unraveling Deception and Drama
New York's Republican Rep George Santos faces the possibility of expulsion from Congress, marking a remarkable turn in his promising political journey As a supermajority of his colleagues plans a rare maneuver, Santos' once dazzling career hangs in the balance
Rep. George Santos' brief and impressive political tenure as a New York Republican may be brought to a close on Friday. A supermajority of his colleagues is set to carry out an unusual maneuver to remove him from the House. Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest, also a Republican from Mississippi, is expected to introduce a resolution that will likely garner at least two-thirds of the chamber's votes. If successful, Santos will become only the third person to be ousted from Congress since the Civil War, a dishonorable distinction typically reserved for convicted felons.
Santos has not been found guilty yet, but he faces numerous charges including fraud, money laundering, theft, and identity theft. His long list of offenses, some alleged and others confirmed by him, makes him one of the most notorious figures in American politics. Santos' numerous transgressions are likely to put the already fragile GOP House majority at risk.
The 56-page ethics report seems to have sealed Santos' fate, as he likened himself to the "Mary Magdalene of United States Congress" and dared his colleagues to remove him. The report meticulously details his "constant series of lies," misrepresentations, and most notably, fraudulent spending. The authors of the subcommittee's submission encapsulated Santos' political deceit in a single, impressive sentence.
Santos' congressional campaigns highlighted his successful background as the grandson of Holocaust survivors, a Baruch College graduate with a Masters in Business Administration from New York University, a professional at Citi Group and Goldman Sachs, a property owner, and a beneficiary of a multi-million-dollar family trust left by his mother, who passed away due to long-term health effects from being at one of the towers during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Before Santos was elected, there were few questions raised about his background, except for notes of concern in local media. Robert Zimmerman, the 2022 Democratic nominee, attempted to raise awareness about Santos' background, but larger news outlets were focused on more high-profile races. It wasn't until over a month after Santos won the 3rd Congressional District that The New York Times published a report that raised doubts about certain aspects of his background.
The ethics report has confirmed what journalists around the world have been reporting for months: "No part of that backstory has been found to be true."
What is clear now is that the tens of thousands of donor dollars Santos allegedly spent on Botox, Hermès, and OnlyFans is just a fraction of the potential damage he may cause Republicans. Already struggling to maintain their House majority ahead of next year's elections, local backlash to Santos could jeopardize the GOP's gains and breathe new life into Empire State Democrats. If not for the scandal, they might have collapsed under a catastrophic losing streak.
Before the election, Democrats had control of the district. Despite the redistricting, it was a combination of unfortunate circumstances and poor political choices that led to the party losing it in 2022.
Santos has been denounced by the county and state GOP, as well as other Republican House members from New York. They are all anticipated to support his expulsion. Meanwhile, Democrats have been working hard to connect all of them back to the freshman congressman since the scandal broke out.
The connections extend beyond ideology and touch on the fundamental drivers of politics: power and money.
New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, the fourth-highest ranked House Republican, is not at risk of losing her seat, but her position in the party, especially among local influencers, was called into question after it was exposed that she had privately supported Santos.
Several Republican operatives in Washington and New York expressed skepticism to CNN in January, questioning whether Stefanik was truly unaware of Santos' falsehoods. While there is no evidence to suggest that Stefanik was aware of the truth, her spokesperson denied any involvement on her part or her staff's. However, this situation has damaged her credibility with certain donors.
The scandal surrounding Santos has also spurred Democratic efforts to remove the Republican lawmakers who were elected alongside him in neighboring or nearby battleground districts. Representatives Anthony DEsposito and Nick LaLota on Long Island, and Mike Lawler, Brandon Williams, and Marc Molinaro in districts north of New York City, are all anticipated to face significant challenges for their seats.
Newly formed coalitions like Battleground New York are also supporting the challengers with multi-million dollar efforts. One recent development is the revelation that Thomas Datwyler, Santos' second campaign treasurer, also served as the treasurer for the groups joint fundraising committee, in addition to his work for DEsposito and LaLota. It is not a coincidence that all five swing-district Republican freshmen are expected to vote for Santos' removal on Friday, given the circumstances.
It is still unclear how much the rot will spread from Santos. In comments to reporters on Thursday, Santos stated that more drama would unfold before he leaves town. He mentioned that he is planning to relocate soon and intends to pack up his Washington apartment on Saturday.
In a conversation with a small group of reporters on Capitol Hill on Thursday, he pledged to "have fun on my way out" and promised to expose misbehaving members of Congress by "naming names" and blowing the whistle. He declined to provide a preview of the potential allegations against "multiple members" but assured that it would be substantial.
Santos declared, "I will follow the example set by the members and go to the Office of Congressional Ethics today and tomorrow to report what I believe is pertinent for the committee to investigate."
Regarding his personal aspirations, Santos mentioned the possibility of writing a revealing book and pursuing a spot on ABC's "Dancing With The Stars." Nevertheless, he confessed that the prospect of facing jail time for the federal charges, which he has denied, was daunting.
Santos, who has already been indicted, was recently charged with 10 additional counts in a new indictment. These charges involve embezzlement from his company and collaborating with Marks to manipulate donation amounts to meet fundraising goals set by national Republicans. His trial is scheduled for September 9, 2024.
Despite an uncertain future, Santos asserts that he will leave Washington with a clear understanding of his role in American democracy.
"I told House Speaker Mike Johnson that history will remember me being unfairly linked with two convicted members and three Confederate members who were expelled for valid reasons," Santos said. "I am going to be the first member of Congress to be expelled without meeting any of those criteria."
At least on that point, Santos is being honest.
CNNs Haley Talbot contributed to this story.
