Botox, Hermès and OnlyFans: Why This May Be George Santos’s Last Week in Congress
Nov 27, 2023
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Republican congressman George Santos faces potential expulsion from the U.S. House of Representatives for misusing campaign funds on Botox and luxury items. House investigators uncovered tens of thousands of dollars spent on personal splurges. Grace Ashford from The New York Times explains why his colleagues have had enough.
The ethics report revealed that Representative George Santos misused campaign funds, including luxury purchases and payments to adult content websites, posing an important conversation about accountability in Congress.
The decision to expel Santos from Congress is a complex one for Republicans, with some supporting expulsion due to his illegal and unacceptable behavior, while others fear losing their narrow majority if Santos is expelled.
Deep dives
Major findings in the ethics report reveal financial misconduct
The ethics report investigating Republican Representative George Santos found substantial evidence that he violated House ethics rules and criminal law. It concluded that Santos sought to fraudulently exploit his candidacy for personal financial gain, using his campaign as a personal piggy bank. The report revealed that Santos exaggerated his wealth and made false claims about large personal loans he made to his campaign. Investigators discovered that Santos diverted campaign funds and donor money into his own pocket through a Florida company called Redstone Strategies. The report detailed numerous instances of misuse of funds, including luxury purchases, trips, and even payments to adult content websites.
Democrats and Republicans divided on expulsion decision
Democrats are now ready to vote in favor of expelling Santos after the release of the damning ethics report. Many of them see the report as providing the evidence needed to justify removal from office. They believe that Santos's actions are not only a reflection of his personal conduct but also set an important precedent for accountability. However, for Republicans, the decision is more complex. Some Republicans, particularly those representing moderate swing districts targeted by Democrats, have expressed support for expulsion. They argue that Santos's behavior is illegal and unacceptable. However, others are concerned about the impact on their narrow majority and fear losing the seat to a Democrat if Santos is expelled.
Challenging the high threshold for expulsion
Expelling Santos requires a two-thirds majority vote in the House, making it a significant challenge. While more than a dozen Republicans have publicly expressed their decision to support expulsion, it falls short of the 70 Republican votes needed for the motion to pass. The outcome of the vote remains uncertain, with some Republicans expected to weigh the evidence and make a decision when they return from the Thanksgiving break. The vote carries historical weight, as only five members have been expelled from the House in its history. Failure to expel Santos would prompt discussions about redefining acceptable conduct and accountability in Congress.
Only five members of the U.S. House of Representatives have ever been expelled from the institution. This week, Representative George Santos, Republican of New York, could become the sixth.
In a damning ethics report, House investigators found that the congressman spent tens of thousands of dollars in political contributions on Botox, Ferragamo goods and vacations.
Grace Ashford, who covers New York State politics and government for The Times, explains why, after a year in office, so many of Mr. Santos’s colleagues have had enough.
Guest: Grace Ashford, a reporter on the Metro desk covering New York State politics and government for The New York Times.
House ethics investigators found that Mr. Santos used campaign money on personal spending splurges in the Hamptons and Atlantic City.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
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