In a defiant action, Rep. Embattled George Santos has lashed out at his colleagues after being fired from Congress.
The shocking event will make it only the sixth time in history that a lawmaker has faced such consequences. In addition to this deportation, Santos, who faces felony fraud charges and has been accused of fabricating many of his biographies, also faces federal charges.
Rep. George Santos Fired After Congress Votes To Expel Him
The House resolution passed by a landslide 311-114, which raised eyebrows when 105 Republicans joined in support. All four top House GOP leaders chose to retain impeached GOP Representatives in Congress.
Following the eviction, Santos spoke to CNN, admitted, “It’s over,” and expressed his belief that the House had set “a new dangerous precedent for themselves.” When asked about staying and using non-member privileges, the 35-year-old bluntly replied:
“Why do I want to stay here? To h— with this place.”
Pressed further on his expectations, Santos stated, “I have no skin in the game,” before indicating that he was free to answer questions as a non-official member of Congress.
MEGA
Although he expressed no interest in using non-member privileges, they are still open to him, given that he has no criminal convictions, unlike past deportations involving Michael Myers in 1980 and Jim Traficant in 2002.
The House Rules also outline that privileges include access to the House floor, dining room, gym and cloakroom, excluding security. Before the vote was passed, the parliamentarian had announced he would not seek re-election and remained resilient in the face of calls for resignation.
Despite surviving previous attempts to oust him, mounting pressure from a scathing ethics report exposed Santos’ alleged exploitation of his House candidacy for personal gain.
After his removal, procedural steps are expected in Congress and his state. For former House Members of Parliament, dismissal from Congress parallels the administrative procedure for vacancies, which include death or resignation.
The Clerk of the House will then take over and oversee the results, which include cleaning out Santos’ office and ensuring the continued operation of his district office for constituents.
For the latter, the Clerk of the House notifies the governor of the third district vacancy, after which Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul, in accordance with New York State law, will issue the proclamation within ten days. A special election will be scheduled to take place between seventy and eighty days from the declaration.
Previous Scandals And Federal Charges: The Political Journey Of Rep. Troubled George Santos
In a saga of lies, exaggerations, and financial embezzlement, the once-popular Republican found himself embroiled in a string of federal charges in May.
Accused of masterminding corrupt practices during his brief tenure, Santos faces investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Justice, particularly their public integrity prosecutors in New York and Washington.
The charges, filed in the eastern district of New York, are shrouded in secrecy, but Santos is expected to appear in court. During his tenure, the politician faced allegations ranging from violating campaign finance laws to masterminding credit card fraud schemes and providing false information about his educational and professional background.
MEGA
One particularly shocking charge involved Santos allegedly stealing funds meant for sick Iraq War veteran service dogs. Richard Osthoff, the veteran, recounted a sad incident in 2016 when he asked for financial help for his dog Sapphire’s surgery.
Living in a tent along a New Jersey highway, Osthoff claimed he met Santos, who operated under the alias Anthony Devolder and purportedly ran a pet charity called “Friends of Pets United.”
A former Dish Network customer service representative allegedly promised Osthoff help and even set up a GoFundMe page for Sapphire’s surgery. However, when funds reached $3,000, Santos abruptly closed the page, becoming “increasingly difficult to contact.”
Despite recommending another vet’s clinic, he failed to disclose that the money had been diverted to “another dog” because Sapphire’s tumor was inoperable. Discovering the information, Osthoff considered Santos a fraud, accusing him of wire and charity fraud.
This prompted the retired Navy to seek legal assistance against the former congressman, working with government agencies to pursue criminal charges.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
