In a major shift in the Republican Party of late, six House Republicans have called for the expulsion of New York Representative George Santos due to a series of scandals engulfing the congressman.
The situation began when Santos was implicated in a years-long bribery scheme, involving three separate companies, that cost taxpayers millions of dollars. The scandal caused a firestorm of controversy, leading to the launch of a Congressional investigation and adding to his already tarnished image.
However, the latest controversy surrounding the congressman comes from a recently surfaced video featuring Santo admitting to misdeeds in accepting payment for services that he was not authorized to provide.
The six House Republican signatories, who are all freshmen, sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calling for the immediate expulsion of Rep. Santos from Congress.
In the letter, the representatives cited Santos’ “illegal and unethical behavior” that has “brought great dishonor to our nation’s highest legislative body.”
The letter also stated that it is the duty of Congress to act in the “best interests” of the American people and to “ensure high ethical standards” for its members which, it argues, was not being done in the case of Rep. Santos.
The legislators further argued that the expulsion was necessary for Congress to uphold its disapproval of corruption and misconduduct, stating that “without punishing those who have broken the public trust, we cannot expect our citizens to believe that Congress still stands for honesty and integrity.”
Their demands may prove controversial in a polarized Congress, but the six Representatives have faith that their actions will have the effect of deterring future members from engaging in unethical behavior.
If sued, Santo’s expulsion would be unprecedented in the history of the United States Congress. The exact mechanics of the expulsion are still unclear, but it would require the approval of a two-thirds vote in the House.
Regardless, the insistence of the representatives in the letter is something that should be taken seriously, given its source. These six freshmen are the future of the party, and their passion for accountability and justice is something that other members of the party would do well to emulate.
