Santos Expelled from House Transcript

For the first time in more than two decades, Congress has expelled one of its own. As Congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins explains, Representative George Santos is out of a job.

The yays are 311, the nays are 114, with two recorded as present.

The new Speaker of the House announced the result solemnly.

Two-thirds voting on the affirmative, the resolution is adopted. The motion to reconsider is laid upon the table.

The first expulsion of a Republican from Congress, and more than 100 Republicans voted to do it.

The clerk will notify the governor of the State of New York of the action of the House.

It was a historic turn of events.

This race is for me a personal race. It’s [inaudible 00:00:37]

Just last year, he was a little known congressional candidate, running as a Trump supporter who embraced Long Island’s diversity, and was tough on crime.

[inaudible 00:00:45]. George Santos vows to tackle crime head on in our district.

He won by seven points. But within weeks, a local newspaper story of his misconduct went national. Santos lied about graduating from college, about working for top New York financial firms, and even his claims of being a Jew. He downplayed what he did.

[inaudible 00:01:05]. Did I embellish my resume? Yes, I did, and I’m sorry. I’m still the same guy. I’m not a fraud. I’m not a cartoon character.

Calls for removal already hovered as he took the oath of office.

George Santos needs to be held accountable for his lies.

Including from fellow Republicans in New York.

Any of our events. As I said, he’s disgraced the House of Representatives, and we do not consider him one of our congresspeople.

I feel confident that I get to fight it and I have my day in court. [inaudible 00:01:32].

Santos survived two previous efforts-

[inaudible 00:01:34]?

… to expel him, as the House awaited an Ethics Committee report that came earlier this month.

Bill, good morning. It’s pretty damning here.

Substantial evidence that Congressman George Santos broke the law.

I’ve read a number of House Ethics Committee reports over the years. This one is uniquely exhaustive, damning, and scathing.

In a 56-page investigative report, the committee, better known for giving warnings, was searing, writing, “Representative Santos sought to fraudulently exploit every aspect of his House candidacy for his own profit,” and finding that Santos bilked donors, reported fake loans, stole money from his campaign, and that funds were spent on things that appeared personal, like at a casino, on an adult entertainment website, and for Botox.

[inaudible 00:02:23].

That came on top of the 23 felony counts he faces, including money laundering and wire fraud. Some Republicans have increasingly demanded his expulsion.

[inaudible 00:02:36] recognizes Mr. D’Esposito.

It is in the best interest of the constituents of New York 3 and all Americans that he is expelled from the House of Representatives.

Santos pleaded not guilty in court.

[inaudible 00:02:48].

I’m going to keep fighting. I’m going to keep fighting for what I believe in. I’m going to keep fighting to represent my district.

And in Congress, maintained that he is the victim of a smear campaign who should be given time to defend himself.

Mr. Speaker, efforts taken by other members in this body to act as judge, jury, and executioner are unconscionable and reckless to our Republican system of government. I stand today to continue to prove my innocence.

The idea of expelling a member before his day in court gave many pause.

Kicking out Mr. Santos is setting a very dangerous precedent. Never before has Congress expelled a member based on indictments. Indictments require nothing more than probable cause. An indictment is not a conviction.

But as evidence mounted, including former staffers admitting wrongdoing, so did votes against him.

It’s in [inaudible 00:03:43].

You are a criminal. You are an absolute criminal.

Now Santos has bigger concerns.

Excuse me.

George, are you going to jail?

I know you have [inaudible 00:03:49].

Absolutely not. Absolutely not. If that’s how we-

With a criminal trial set for next fall. If convicted, the congressman who spent less than a year representing New York could face a prison term measured in decades.

And Lisa joins us now with more on today’s historic development. Lisa, help us understand what this means for the congressman’s seat and just for Congress more broadly.

Republicans are nervous. There is a chance in the special election to fill this seat that they could lose it, in fact. So we’re going to watch that very closely.

(04:17)
It’s also interesting history-wise. One reason that we know this is historic, this happens so seldom, the vote was close going into it, but it was another member of the Republican Party, Congressman Max Miller, who sent out an email to his colleagues saying that he and his mother personally were victims of George Santos, that when they gave money to the campaign, they were bilked out of … Ultimately lost some $30,000. And that influenced Republicans’ choice, I think, to get rid of him.

(04:43)
One other note, I think, it’s important to say, there was real divide among Republicans about this, as you heard in the piece, and I think that divide may remain. There was a little bit of bitterness here leaving … And some Republicans thinking this was an incredible mistake. Others thinking it had to happen. So something to watch for in that Republican conference.

I’ll be following the impact of it all. Another historic day on Capitol Hill. Lisa Desjardins, thank you.

You’re welcome.