The Blubber

On Friday, the House voted to expel Republican Rep. George Santos of New York following a damning ethics report that accused him of misusing campaign donations, making him the sixth member in the chamber's history to face expulsion. The vote, requiring support from two-thirds of the House, garnered a decisive 311-114 result.

Despite Santos defending himself during House floor debate and through a news conference, the blistering House Ethics Committee report, accusing him of violating federal law, played a key role in the expulsion. After the vote, Santos, accepting his fate, covered himself with his overcoat, shook hands with opposing members, and left the House chamber. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., then formally declared Santos' seat vacant and instructed the House clerk to inform the governor of New York.

Santos, who vehemently resisted the expulsion effort, had appealed directly to lawmakers, arguing that his removal could set a dangerous precedent for future expulsions. During the Thursday evening debate, he stated, "I will not stand by quietly.

The people of the Third District of New York sent me here. If they want me out, you're going to have to go silence those people and go take the hard vote." While some Republican leaders, including Johnson, expressed concerns about the expulsion, others believed holding lawmakers to a higher standard would be welcomed by voters. Santos warned that removing a member based on mere allegations could haunt lawmakers in the future.