https://www.cbsnews.com/news/george-santos-expulsion-vote-house-congress-today/The House on Friday voted to expel embattled Republican Rep. George Santos from Congress, bringing an end to a tumultuous tenure in Washington that was defined by scandal from the start.
In their third attempt to oust him since May, House lawmakers voted 311 to 114 in favor of the expulsion resolution, including 105 Republicans who voted for it. Two Democrats voted against expelling Santos. Two members voted present, and eight members did not vote. The resolution required a two-thirds majority to pass. Santos left the House chamber during the vote.
"The clerk will notify the governor of the state of New York of the action of the House," Speaker Mike Johnson announced from the House dais. "The chair announces that in light of the expulsion of the gentleman from New York, Mr. Santos, the whole number of the House is 434."
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, said on social media following the vote that she is prepared to "undertake the solemn responsibility of filling the vacancy" arising from Santos' removal, adding, "the people of Long Island deserve nothing less." Under state law, she has up to 10 days to call a special election for the seat, and it must be set for within 70 to 80 days from the governor's order.
Dozens of Santos' colleagues were apparently swayed by a damning report from the House Ethics Committee released two weeks ago that found there was "substantial evidence" that Santos repeatedly broke the law. Santos brazenly embellished his biography to win his seat in Congress last year and now faces nearly two dozen federal charges related to alleged fraud and illegal use of campaign funds.
The bipartisan vote makes Santos just the sixth House member in U.S. history to be expelled and the first in more than 20 years. Rep. James Traficant was removed from office in 2002 after being convicted of 10 corruption-related felonies.
