C-SPAN: Representative George Santos: 'If I Leave, They Win, This is bullying'

Source:C-SPAN covering soon to be ex-U.S. Representative George Santos (Republican, New York)

"Rep. George Santos (R-NY) holds a news conference on Capitol Hill the morning of an expected U.S. House debate on a resolution to expel him from Congress. He says he plans to file a privileged motion to expel Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), who plead guilty for pulling a fire alarm to delay a vote in September. Full video here:C-SPAN." 

From C-SPAN

"The House of Representatives—in the same manner as the United States Senate—is expressly authorized within the United States Constitution (Article I, Section 5, clause 2) to discipline or “punish” its own Members. This authority of the House to discipline a Member for “disorderly Behaviour” is in addition to any criminal or civil liability that a Member of the House may incur for particular misconduct, and is used not merely to punish an individual Member, but to protect the institutional integrity of the House of Representatives, its proceedings, and its reputation.

The House may discipline its Members without the necessity of Senate concurrence. The most common forms of discipline in the House are now “expulsion,” “censure,” or “reprimand,” although the House may also discipline its Members in other ways, including fine or monetary restitution, loss of seniority, and suspension or loss of certain privileges. In addition to such sanctions imposed by the full House of Representatives, the standing committee in the House which deals with ethics and official conduct matters, the House Committee on Ethics—formerly called the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct—is authorized by House Rules to issue a formal “Letter of Reproval” for misconduct which does not rise to the level of consideration or sanction by the entire House of Representatives. Additionally, the Committee on Ethics has also expressed its disapproval of certain conduct in informal letters and communications to Members.

The House may generally discipline its Members for violations of statutory law, including crimes; for violations of internal congressional rules; or for any conduct which the House of Representatives finds has reflected discredit upon the institution. Each house of Congress has disciplined its own Members for conduct which has not necessarily violated any specific rule or law, but which was found to breach its privileges, demonstrate contempt for the institution, or reflect discredit on the House or Senate.

When the most severe sanction of expulsion has been employed in the House, the underlying conduct deemed to have merited removal from office has historically involved either disloyalty to the United States, or the violation of a criminal law involving the abuse of one’s official position, such as bribery. The House of Representatives has actually expelled only five Members in its history, but a number of Members, facing likely congressional discipline for misconduct, have resigned from Congress or have been defeated in an election prior to any formal House action... 

From the Congressional Research Service

I posted the quote and link from the CRS because in Representative George Santos's statement, he said this process is illegal and only the voters get to decide who represents them in Congress. (That's a very close paraphrase) But the fact is, any competent, honest, and responsible, U.S. Representative, would know that George Santos is wrong here. 

If the House didn't do an ethics investigation and give a final report on Representative George Santos, then maybe Santos would have an argument here. But everything that he did to further his personal life, including paying his own personal rent, while running for the House last year, where he used his campaign funds to pay for all of his personal expenses, is in the House Ethics Committee final report. A committee that's led and chaired by a Republican.  

"Pursuant to House Rule XI Clause 3(q)(1), today the Chairman of the Committee on Ethics, Representative Michael Guest, and the Ranking Member, Representative Susan Wild, submitted a report to the House of Representatives in the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative George Santos. The full Committee report includes the report of the Investigative Subcommittee (ISC) in this matter. 

At the completion of its investigation, the ISC unanimously concluded that there was substantial evidence that Representative George Santos: knowingly caused his campaign committee to file false or incomplete reports with the Federal Election Commission; used campaign funds for personal purposes; engaged in fraudulent conduct in connection with RedStone Strategies LLC; and engaged in knowing and willful violations of the Ethics in Government Act as it relates to his Financial Disclosure (FD) Statements filed with the House.  In light of the ongoing criminal investigation into Representative Santos, and the ISC’s findings of additional uncharged and unlawful conduct by Representative Santos, the ISC recommended that the Committee immediately refer these allegations to the Department of Justice.

The Committee has unanimously voted to adopt the ISC’s report, and with it, refer the substantial evidence of potential violations of federal criminal law to the Department of Justice for such further action as it deems appropriate.  The Committee concurs with the ISC’s determination that Representative Santos’ conduct warrants public condemnation, is beneath the dignity of the office, and has brought severe discredit upon the House. 

The Committee thanks the Committee staff and the Members of the Investigative Subcommittee for their hard work, dedication, and service to the Committee and to the House.  Representative David P. Joyce served as Chair of the Investigative Subcommittee.  Representative Susan Wild served as Ranking Democratic Member.  Representative John H. Rutherford and Representative Glenn F. Ivey also served on the Subcommittee." 

From the Congressional Research Service 

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