Vote to expel George Santos from Congress derailed

WASHINGTON — House Republicans on Wednesday derailed a Democrat-led effort to force a vote to expel Rep. George Santos, a week after he was indicted on 13 federal criminal charges related to his personal and campaign finances.

In a 221-204 party line vote, the chamber’s Republican majority voted to refer an expulsion measure introduced by Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday to the House Ethics Committee instead of holding an immediate floor vote to remove the scandal-plagued lawmaker representing New York’s 3rd Congressional District. 

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) had pushed for the referral, arguing that past precedent established that expelled lawmakers were either removed after a criminal conviction, or at the recommendation of the ethics committee after an investigation by the bipartisan panel.

Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-Island Park) introduced the motion to refer the expulsion measure to the panel, saying in a House floor speech that he supported Santos’ removal from office, but it was his “understanding” that the chamber did not currently have “the two- thirds support from members” to expel him.

Despite Santos’ unpopularity with most Republicans, he has forged friendships and alliances with several right-flank lawmakers including Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), who have expressed support.

"I believe that this individual is a stain on this institution, a stain on the state of New York, a stain on Long Island, and a stain on the beloved Nassau County,” D’Esposito said in his speech. “With that said, we believe this resolution should be referred to the committee on ethics to ensure a thorough and expedient investigation into this matter.”

Santos, who pleaded not guilty last week to the charges, voted in favor of referring the expulsion measure to the ethics committee.

In a statement before the vote, he derided the expulsion measure sponsored by Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), saying it was aimed at “silencing 145,000 voters who sent me here to represent them and taking the voice away from 700,000 people” living in the district.

“Fortunately justice is blind in our country, and everyone is innocent until proven guilty,” Santos (R-Nassau/Queens) said. “Regrettably so, Rep. Garcia and the Democrats are playing the roles of bias judge and jury.”

Garcia and other House Democrats on Wednesday morning denounced the GOP-led move to delay a floor vote. They took aim in particular at New York House Republicans, many of whom have called on Santos to resign, and have expressed support for expelling him, but have not publicly pressed McCarthy for his removal.

“If you're willing to call upon George Santos to resign, then you should be willing to call upon your own leadership to expel George Santos,” Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx) said.

Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-Brooklyn), a former federal prosecutor, called the move to refer the expulsion resolution back to a committee a “cop-out” by Republicans.

“It is simply an effort for the Republicans to avoid having to take an up or down vote on whether or not George Santos belongs here,” Goldman said.

D’Esposito and Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) have repeatedly called for Santos to step down and have said they would support expelling Santos. Both voted in favor of the referral to the ethics committee.

LaLota after the vote said he expected the ethics committee would provide “a result within 60 days and for the terrible liar to be gone, by resignation or expulsion, before August recess.”

“While I would have preferred there to be enough votes to expel the sociopath scam artist, Congressman D’Esposito has spearheaded the next best option: to refer this matter to the Ethics Committee,” LaLota said in a statement. 

Seven House members voted present, including all five Democrats on the ethics committee, and two other Democrats.

Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) who sits on the committee and has routinely refused to weigh in on Santos, citing his role on the committee, voted in favor of the referral. 

Garbarino said he supported it because “no previous vote for expulsion of a member from the House has occurred without an accompanying report from the Ethics Committee.” 

“The Ethics Committee is best positioned to investigate this matter. I’m reserving all other judgment until the investigation is complete,” Garbarino said.

McCarthy, who is looking to preserve the House GOP’s narrow four-vote edge, said he “would like the Ethics Committee to move rapidly on this.”

“I think we can look at this very quickly and come to a conclusion on what George Santos did and did not do through ethics, a safe bipartisan committee,” McCarthy said.

By Laura Figueroa Hernandez

laura.figueroa@newsday.com@Laura_Figueroa

Laura Figueroa Hernandez is the White House correspondent and previously covered New York City politics and government. She joined Newsday in 2012 after covering state and local politics for The Miami Herald.