After Expulsion Vote Fails, Santos Awaits House Ethics This Month

WASHINGTON, DC — The future of Rep. George Santos in Congress is uncertain, but an expulsion vote put forth by a group of New York Republicans failed to gain the two-thirds supermajority support.

Nassau County's Rep. Anthony D'Esposito (R-Island Park) led the resolution effort Wednesday night against Santos, who has been tied to lying about his upbringing, work history and schooling.

The alleged lies expanded to federal fraud indictments in May and October. In both cases, the first-term congressman, who serves parts of Queens and Nassau, pleaded not guilty.

"I remain steadfast in my commitment to serving my constituents and upholding conservative ideas," Santos said in a statement on Thursday.

However, Santos' former communications director Naysa Woomer said this was "by no means a victory lap" as the allegations "should continue to be taken very seriously."

Although the expulsion gained bipartisan support, 31 Democrats voted against Santos' removal, including Rep. Jamie Raskin, who noted this dramatic step has only happened five times in the nation's history.

“This would be a terrible precedent to set, expelling people who have not been convicted of a crime and without internal due process," Raskin (D-Maryland) said.

Part of the internal due process comes from the House Ethics Committee, which is expected to release its findings on Santos by November 17.

"While Mr. Santos remains a House Member for at least the next few weeks, his future is not in the House— it’s in a federal penitentiary," Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Suffolk County) said. "In a few weeks, the House can take another vote on expulsion after the Ethics Committee releases their findings. I expect many more of my colleagues to vote yes then."

Jody Kass, with the advocacy group Concerned Citizens of NY-03, concurs.

"We are looking to Congress to bring the Resolution to Expel Santos back to the floor for a straight up-or-down vote before the end of November," she said.

Woomer also believes another vote to expel is around the corner.

"I expect that a new expulsion resolution to be reintroduced by the New York/Long Island Republicans," she said.