Democrats File Resolution Calling for Expulsion of Rep. Santos

Group claims Republican leaders McCarthy and Stefanik are protecting Santos to keep House majority

Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) looks on as the U.S. House of Representatives convenes for the 118th Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 3, 2023. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

A group of Democratic members of Congress introduced a resolution to the House Ethics Committee calling for the expulsion of Rep. George Santos (D-N.Y.), accused of lying about his background and accomplishments. They also accused Republican leaders of covering for Santos to maintain their slim majority in the House of Representatives.

HR 114 calls for Santos to be expelled from Congress. In addition to Garcia, it lists Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.), Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), and Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) as sponsors.

U.S. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) delivers remarks after House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was elected speaker of the House in the House Chamber at the Capitol Building in Washington on Jan. 7, 2023. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Santos has been accused of fabricating his family background, education, and work history. He has admitted to lying about attending college.

Santos was elected to represent New York’s Third Congressional District. However, Torres and Goldman, both from New York, said most of Santos’ constituents no longer want Santos in office.

“He’s persona-non-grata to almost every single Republican, except the leadership who’s protecting him,” Torres said.

According to Goldman, Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif) and Chair of the House Republican Conference Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) have protected Santos since he was a candidate.

“Are they not asking him to resign because they are worried about what their involvement was and that that might come out?” Goldman asked. “That’s an open question that has yet to be answered.”

Admits to ‘Embellishments’

Santos, McCarthy, and Stefanik did not respond to telephone calls and emails from The Epoch Times.

In December, Santos admitted to some “resume embellishments,” confessing he hadn’t graduated from Baruch College or any other college. Santos also claimed to have worked for two Wall Street firms when he instead worked for a company called Link Bridge, which did business with both firms. Santos also admitted to lying about owning 13 different properties.

Santos faced other allegations, including claiming that he was Jewish. In an interview with the New York Post, Santos said he had “never claimed to be Jewish.”

Sorensen, a meteorologist in Illinois before his election, said he worked hard to earn his constituents’ trust, and that Santos had damaged that trust.

“I earned the people’s trust as the first gay representative from Illinois,” Sorensen said.

Balint echoed Sorensen’s sentiments. She said Americans’ trust in elected officials has declined over the years, and that only two in 10 voters trust Congress today.

“We’re at an all-time low of confidence in government,” Balint said.

The representative also said this is not a partisan issue. Goldman said that if Santos had been a Democrat, they would still be pushing for his ouster. Balint agreed, repeating Torres’ claim that Republicans wanted Santos out.

“I never thought I would say this, but I agree with Mitt Romney,” Balint said.

Goldman said the group has tried to get Santos to leave on his own, but he has refused. So, now they are taking the next step.

“It is a shame it has come to this. He should have resigned; he should not be a member of Congress,” Goldman said.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) agrees. Jefferies was asked his opinion in his weekly press briefing on Feb. 9. He said Santos has been able to stay in office through support from “the extreme MAGA Republican leadership.”

“George Santos is a complete and utter and total fraud,” Jeffries said. “[Republican leaders] are still coddling him here in the United States Congress.”