U.S. House expels Rep. George Santos

The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday voted 311-114 to oust Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y. Two lawmakers voted merely as present. Santos has pleaded not guilty to 23 federal charges alleging he laundered money, lied to Congress, and stole money from his campaign donors. Earlier this month, the House Ethics Committee released a report saying it had found substantial evidence of wrongdoing by Santos.

What did Santos have to say about this? Before the vote, he had criticized the privileged resolution to expel him, saying that it abridged the principles of due process. He maintained that he had not been convicted in a court of law. Before Santos, the House had only expelled five lawmakers in its history. Three committed treason by joining the Confederacy during the Civil War. Two more lost their positions after courts convicted them of crimes. After the vote, Santos declined to comment to the press.

Dig deeper: Read Leo Briceno’s report in The Stew about Santos’ staring contest with today’s expulsion vote.