The House on Wednesday night voted on a resolution to impeach Rep. George Santos, deferring all future discipline to the ongoing ethics investigation into the lying Long Island Republican.
The resolution failed 179-213, even though 24 Republicans and 155 Democrats voted to impeach the impeached congressman following his 23 federal counts of embezzlement and fraud.
Four GOP lawmakers and 15 voting Democrats were present. Twenty-two were absent.
Representative Anthony D’Esposito and New York GOP colleagues. Marc Molinaro, Nick LaLota, Brandon Williams and Mike Lawler brought the special resolution to court last week, forcing a vote within two legislative days.
“All you have to do is look at the lies and fraud in the resolution and the details of the allegations – the various allegations – to see that Mr. Santos is a stain on this institution and is not fit to serve in the House of Representatives,” D’Esposito said in a speech on the floor of the House before the vote. .
Rep. Anthony D’Esposito and fellow GOP New York Reps. Marc Molinaro, Nick LaLota, Brandon Williams and Mike Lawler brought a special resolution to expel Rep. George Santos (R-NY). Getty Images In a House floor speech, D’ Esposito called Santos “a stain on this institution and unfit to serve in the House of Representatives.” Getty Images
The resolution cited Santos’ lies about his personal background, education and past employment, as well as his fabrications about family members who had fled Nazi Germany and survived the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
“This is not something you’re joking about, you’re lying,” Lawler declared from the House floor before Santos’ false vote. “It doesn’t fit!”
It also pointed to the recent guilty plea by his 2022 campaign treasurer, Nancy Marks, who admitted to falsifying financial reports, one of which claimed the congresswoman personally donated $500,000 to her own campaign.
The resolution cited Santos’ lies about his personal background, education and past employment, as well as his fabrications about family members fleeing Nazi Germany.Getty Images
Santos blasted the resolution from the House floor as “politically motivated,” saying “GOP bigwigs” and lawmakers who carried the resolution acted as “judge, jury and executioner” against him.
“Now is not the time to set a dangerous precedent,” he added, pointing to congressional removals that have occurred after members were convicted.
Santos also said some members of Congress have maintained their support for Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), who is under investigation on federal corruption charges, and for Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), who pleaded guilty last week to falsely pulling a fire alarm in one of the Capitol office buildings.
Santos denounced the resolution from the House floor as “politically motivated.” Getty Images
“I must warn my colleagues that voting to be fired at this point would bypass the judicial system’s right to due process to which I am entitled,” he said.
Two-thirds of the lower house had to vote in favor of 35-year-old Santos to be expelled from Congress.
Under former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), GOP House lawmakers rejected an initial move by Democrats to fire the new representative, choosing instead to refer Santos’ numerous forgeries and financial misconduct to the House Ethics Committee.
Under former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), GOP lawmakers rejected an initial move by Democrats to expel the new representative.Getty Images
House Democrats criticized New York’s Republican delegation for missing an earlier opportunity to oust Santos, with their political campaign arm blaming them for “deliberately stalling on expelling their criminally indicted colleague from Congress.”
In an expected turn, Santos gave his free time to Rep. Dan Goldman (R-NY), who rose in support of the D’Esposito removal resolution while blasting GOP lawmakers for delaying the vote.
On Tuesday, the House panel released an interim report that it had “contacted approximately 40 witnesses, reviewed more than 170,000 pages of documents, and authorized 37 subpoenas.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) also expressed a dim view of deportation efforts in a Fox News interview last week.AP
The committee also announced “further action” against the 3rd district representative will proceed “on or before” Nov. 17.
Santos has pleaded not guilty to all charges stemming from his federal indictment.
At least nine Republican candidates have announced primary challenges in 2024, as the congressman refuses to resign.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) also expressed a dim view of the deportation effort in a Fox News interview last week, noting that Republicans have a “four-seat majority in the House” and that Santos should be given “due process.”
The House has dismissed only five of its members in its history.Getty Images
But even after Johnson’s statement, New York Republicans remained steadfast in their push for deportation hours before the resolution was discussed, circulating a letter to their colleagues urging them to expel Santos.
“The United States Congress must always uphold the highest standards and ensure accountability for those who have taken advantage of the American people — regardless of political party,” they wrote.
“Many are entitled to call for the resignation and removal of Senator Bob Menendez and we see no difference in the case of George Santos. We must lead by example. We must rise to achieve that success. We must do what is right.”
The House has fired only five members in its history, with Ohio Democrat James Traficant being the most recent to get the boot in 2002 after he was convicted of bribery, racketeering and tax evasion.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
