House Speaker Mike Johnson described the House vote to expel former Rep. George Santos as a day marred by what he perceived as a disregard for due process principles and the rule of law. The expulsion, which occurred with a 311-114 vote, saw 105 GOP members aligning with Democrats to remove Santos from their ranks.
Despite Santos’ scandal-ridden tenure in Congress, marked by false statements about his education and resume, as well as a House Ethics Committee report revealing misuse of campaign funds and misleading donors, Johnson underscored that Santos has not been convicted on any charges. Johnson maintained that the expulsion contradicted Republican values rooted in the rule of law and due process.
In a joint interview, Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik addressed concerns raised by members supporting Santos’ expulsion, pointing to worries stemming from the Ethics Committee on report. Dismissing questions about the impact on the Republican majority, Stefanik expressed optimism about filling the vacant seat with a strong Republican candidate, citing a perceived “red wave” on Long Island at the local level and anticipating a new member in February or March.
