Efforts to expel New York's Rep. George Santos fail in House

Amy R. Connolly
·2 min read
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The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote Wednesday to expel Rep. George Santos after five Republican congressmen from New York sent a letter pushing his ouster. On Oct. 18, Santos (R) took part in the second vote to elect a new speaker at the U.S. Capitol in Washington (pictured at R). Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote Wednesday to expel Rep. George Santos after five Republican congressmen from New York sent a letter pushing his ouster. On Oct. 18, Santos (R) took part in the second vote to elect a new speaker at the U.S. Capitol in Washington (pictured at R). Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
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Nov. 1 (UPI) -- New York Rep. George Santos survived a second attempt Wednesday to expel him from the House with most Republicans opting to keep him in place.

Santos easily survived the expulsion resolution led by five fellow New York Republicans who said Santos represents "the most explicit example of election fraud this cycle."

In a letter sent to fellow lawmakers, first-term Reps. Mike Lawler, Nick LaLota, Anthony D'Esposito, Marcus Molinaro and Brandon Williams said removing Santos would allow voters to elect a replacement quickly.

"This issue is not a political one, but a moral one," they wrote. "Plain and simple -- this is a question of right and wrong."

Santos is facing a 23-count federal indictment, which included new and existing charges of unlawful monetary transactions, stealing identities and credit card information from donors and reporting a false $500,000 campaign loan. He pleaded not guilty.

Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y. (R), applauds as Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed a joint meeting of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., in July. The speech was meant to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Israel's statehood, and to reaffirm the U.S.-Israeli relationship. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y. (R), applauds as Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed a joint meeting of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., in July. The speech was meant to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Israel's statehood, and to reaffirm the U.S.-Israeli relationship. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

Some members of Congress have said they worry that ejecting Santos before a criminal proceeding or a House Ethics Committee report would set a dangerous precedent.

The vote on Wednesday would have require a two-thirds majority.

New York Rep. George Santos speaks to the press at Long Island Federal Courthouse in New York where charges were filed under seal in May. FBI and the Justice Department public integrity prosecutors in New York and Washington have been examining allegations of false statements in Santos' campaign finance filings and other claims. Photo by John Nacion/UPI