Disgraced Republican congressman George Santos has mentioned he “is not going to be resigning” forward of a vote that might see him expelled from the Home following a scathing ethics report.
Fairly than step down from his seat, the 35-year-old scandal-ridden fabulist will now face the wrath of his fellow lawmakers after “substantial proof” steered that he violated federal legal guidelines.
The Home Ethics Committee argued in a 56-page report that Mr Santos “knowingly” used his marketing campaign committee to file false and incomplete studies to the Federal Election Fee (FEC), that he used marketing campaign donations for private bills, that he violated the Ethics in Authorities Act, and that he dedicated fraud utilizing an organization he co-owned.
The report included allegations that Mr Santos used marketing campaign cash to pay for Botox, luxurious purchases at Hermes and Ferragamo, in addition to smaller sums spent on OnlyFans, meals, parking, journey and hire.
Ethics panel chair GOP Rep Michael Visitor filed a movement to expel Mr Santos shortly after the report was made public.
The uncovered lawmaker then mentioned he was anticipating to be expelled, however on Tuesday reiterated on the Home flooring that he wouldn’t be voluntarily resigning.
“I do know I’m going to get expelled when this expulsion decision goes to the ground,” he mentioned final week throughout a reside broadcast on X Areas.
A two-thirds majority of the Home is required to expel him. A vote might come as early as Wednesday.
The ethics probe started in March of this yr after allegations arose in opposition to Mr Santos of marketing campaign finance misconduct and that he made up massive elements of his resume. In Could, he was indicted in a federal Lengthy Island court docket on 13 expenses adopted by one other 10 expenses in a superseding indictment filed in October.
Earlier than the discharge of the ethics report, Mr Santos survived two motions to take away him. Certainly one of them was put ahead by fellow New York Republicans, however Mr Santos prevailed by a vote of 179 to 213.
Forward of a doable new vote on his expulsion, Mr Santos mentioned he had “achieved the mathematics again and again and it doesn’t look actually good”.
However he claimed that he would put on his expulsion “like a badge of honor”.
Rep. Robert Garcia introduces decision to expel George Santos from Congress
Whereas calling the report “slanderous” and arguing that it was politically motivated, Mr Santos nonetheless beforehand introduced that he wouldn’t search re-election in 2024, probably hoping to move off efforts in addition him to permit him to serve his full time period.
If compelled out Mr Santos will change into solely the third Member of Congress to be expelled since 1861.
The primary overtly homosexual Republican elected to the chamber, Mr Santos mentioned he felt just like the “it woman” when he gained the third congressional seat within the Empire State in 2022. He added that everyone needed him “till no person needed me”.
Following the discharge of the Ethics report, Mr Santos mentioned, “Due course of is lifeless”, arguing that the report was “flawed” and that it was “an affront in opposition to my rights”.
“The quantity of hyperbole on this doc is daunting. Each single individual I’ve had discussions about it with – I’ve spoken to outstanding Democrats who have been troubled by the work of this committee,” he mentioned. “It was designed to smear me, it was designed to pressure me out of my seat. That’s what the intention of this report was. This report wasn’t a discovering of details.
“I’ll stand for expulsion. I wish to see them set this precedent as a result of this precedent units a brand new period of due course of, which implies you might be responsible till confirmed harmless,” he added. “We’ll take your accusations and use it to smear, to mangle, to destroy you and take away you from society. That’s what they’re doing with this.
“This report is an affront in opposition to my rights and it ought to fear each single considered one of you guys.”
“I’m not working for re-election, not as a result of this was a damning report,” he mentioned final week. “I’m not working for re-election as a result of I don’t wish to work with a bunch of hypocrites. I do know I’m going to get expelled when this expulsion decision goes to the ground.”
Mike Bedigan contributed reporting to this story