EMBATTLED Representative George Santos has remained defiant in his final moments as a Congress member, blasting the expulsion as he stormed out of Capitol Hill for the last time.
The Republican Representative from New York became the sixth lawmaker – and first GOP member – to ever be expelled from the chamber.
Republican Representative George Santos has been expelled from CongressEPA/JIM LO SCALZO
EPAGeorge Santos stormed out of Capitol Hill before the final tally was finished[/caption]
AlamyA sea of reporters chased Santos as he exited Capitol Hill and entered a private vehicle waiting for him outside[/caption]
AFP‘To hell with this place,’ Santos blasted as he left Capitol Hill for the last time[/caption]
The measure passed with 311 House members voting in favor of expulsion, including 105 Republicans.
Santos, 35, stormed out of Capitol Hill before the final tally was finished, descending the House steps to a waiting car.
A sea of reporters chased Santos, who seethed that the decision set a “new dangerous precedent for themselves.”
“The House spoke, that’s their vote,” Santos told CNN.
“Why would I want to stay here? To hell with this place.”
The troubled representative added: “You know what? As unofficially no longer a member of Congress, I no longer have to answer your questions.”
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she’s prepared to fill Santos’ vacant seat.
The Democratic governor now has 10 days to announce a special election date to fill the vacant seat.
“George Santos is a liar – in fact, he has admitted to many of them – who has used his position of public trust to personally benefit himself from Day 1,” Republican Representative Anthony D’Esposito said.
During his short political career, Santos fabricated associations with the Holocaust, the September 11 terrorist attacks, and the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando.
Despite his expulsion from Congress, Santos still faces a federal indictment in which prosecutors accused him of multiple criminal acts, including wire fraud, unlawful monetary transactions, and stealing public funds.
HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE REPORT
Last month, the House Ethics Committee released a bombshell report accusing Santos of squandering campaign funds on personal purchases.
The scathing 56-page report ended a nearly nine-month investigation inside the embattled congressmember.
The House Ethics Committee said their investigation found “substantial evidence” that Santos used campaign funds for personal purposes.
The committee voted unanimously to pass along its findings to the Department of Justice, saying Santos’ conduct “warrants public condemnation, is beneath the dignity of the office, and has brought severe discredit upon the House.”
The report stated that Santos did not fully cooperate with the investigation.
Santos is accused of submitting numerous expenses that did not appear to have a camping purpose, according to the report.
He allegedly spent funds on travel and hotel stays in Las Vegas that link to when he was believed to be on his honeymoon.
The former congressman blew thousands on spas and made two payments for Botox procedures, the report states.
Investigators found that in 2022, Santos transferred at least $200,000 to himself from RedStone Strategies, which he used to raise money without being subjected to campaign contribution limits.
The funds were then used to pay off personal credit card debts, make purchases at Hermes and Sephora, and spend on OnlyFans, according to the report.
Santos went on to slam the report as a smear campaign and criticized the US government.