George Santos refuses to step down despite multiple expulsion votes in US House

George Santos is facing an upcoming vote to expel him from Congress, but he remains defiant, claiming that he is being rushed out without proper due process. Previous attempts to remove him from his seat have failed, but a damning ethics report detailing his misconduct in office has greatly increased the likelihood of his removal. The House of Representatives debated the motion to oust him on Thursday and will hold the final vote on Friday. During the debate, Santos criticized the effort, calling it "chaos" and "bullying" within Congress. However, he stated that he will accept the outcome of the vote, whatever it may be. The House ethics committee recently found Santos guilty of stealing from his campaign and misusing funds for personal benefit. The report listed numerous allegations, including the use of campaign funds for Botox treatments, purchases on OnlyFans, and vacations in the Hamptons. Republican Chairman Michael Guest defended the report and urged lawmakers to expel Santos. Expulsion votes are rare and require a two-thirds majority; only five lawmakers have ever been removed this way. Santos, who is currently facing federal charges, including wire fraud and money laundering, accused his colleagues of targeting him unfairly. Some lawmakers supported the resolution to oust him, citing the ethics report and his alleged breach of public trust. Others argued that he should be given due process and that the decision should be left to the American people. House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed reservations about removing Santos from office. While some lawmakers previously did not support expulsion, they have now changed their positions and back his removal. Party leaders have pleaded with Santos to resign to avoid another vote, but he has refused and plans to introduce his own expulsion motion against a Democratic colleague. The prospect of removing Santos is complicated for his party as it could further diminish their already slim majority in the House, and there is no guarantee that another Republican will win his seat in the subsequent election. If Santos is expelled, New York's governor will have 10 days to call for an election, which would take place 70 to 80 days later.