Key events
Ahead of the House vote on George Santos’s expulsion, Florida’s Republican representative Maria Salazar told MSNBC:
“I know that the charges against him are despicable but who am I to say ‘out’? The constituents are the ones who are going to kick him out in November, or not.
Meanwhile, Utah’s Republican representative John Curtis told MSNBC “yes” in response to whether he will vote to expel Santos today.
Tennessee’s Democratic representative Steve Cohen has called George Santos a “shameless liar who is a disgrace to mankind.”
As I listen to some of my colleagues being interviewed about their vote on George Santos, and they talk about due process,I know that many of them think that’s something that Willard Scott and Al Roker are experts on.
Expel Santos, a shameless liar who is a disgrace to mankind— Steve Cohen (@RepCohen) December 1, 2023
Cohen’s comments come as the House convenes to vote – for the third time – on Santos’s expulsion.
Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to be appointed to the supreme court, has died at 93-years old, the court announced on Friday.
O’Connor was appointed to the court by then-president Ronald Reagan in 1981 and retired in 2006.
Mike Johnson and Steve Scalise opposed to expulsion vote, reports say
CNN’s Haley Talbot reports that House speaker Mike Johnson will not vote to expel George Santos today.
Louisiana’s Republican representative Steve Scalise said that he is also against the vote, according to Talbot.
SPEAKER JOHNSON will not vote to expel Santos today
Scalise also against
— Haley Talbot (@haleytalbotcnn) December 1, 2023
New York’s Republican representative Marc Molinaro would not say whether he is confident that the House will have enough votes to expel George Santos, CNN’s Manu Raju reports.
According to Raju, Molinaro said that they are “closing in” and the vote will be “tight.”
Marc Molinaro, a NY Republican helping lead push for George Santos’ ouster, wouldn’t say if he’s confident they’ll have the votes to expel him. Told me they are “closing in” and the vote will be “tight”
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) December 1, 2023
Former Santos staffer says ex-boss ‘not a victim’
Speaking to CNN on Thursday, George Santos’s former communications director Naysa Woomer said Santos is “not a victim…this is an issue that was of his own making.”
Woomer, who resigned from Santos’s team in May after Santos was indicted on wire fraud and money laundering charges, added:
“If we’re looking to earn the trust back of the American people, let this serve as an example by expelling someone who is truly unfit to serve.”
“If we are looking to earn the trust back of the American people, let this serve as an example by expelling someone who is truly unfit to serve.”
Fmr. Comms Dir. for Rep. George Santos @NaysaWoomer on upcoming vote to expel: pic.twitter.com/o0oaDbZG82
— CNN This Morning (@CNNThisMorning) December 1, 2023
During Thursday’s House debate on George Santos’s expulsion, Florida’s Republican representative Matt Gaetz came to Santos’s defense, saying:
“Whatever Mr. Santos did with Botox or OnlyFans is far less concerning to me than the indictment against senator Menendez who’s holding gold bars inscribed with Arabic on them from Egypt while he is still getting classified briefings.”
“Whatever Mr. Santos did with Botox or OnlyFans is far less concerning to me than the indictment against Sen. Menendez who’s holding gold bars … from Egypt while he is still getting classified briefings.”
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) on resolution to expel Rep. George Santos (R-NY) pic.twitter.com/xsfF9EJ4Mw
— The Recount (@therecount) November 30, 2023
Gaetz referred to New Jersey’s Democratic senator Bob Menendez who was charged in October with conspiring to act as a foreign agent on behalf of Egypt. Menendez has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
The House vote on George Santos’s expulsion is expected to take place at 10:30am ET today.
George Santos to face House vote on resolution to expel him
The House is set to vote on the expulsion of George Santos, the disgraced New York Republican representative who has been indicted on charges of wire fraud and money laundering.
The House vote follows a report released by the House ethics committee earlier this month which detailed “pervasive fraud” and alleged Santos used campaign funds on various personal gains including Botox, OnlyFans and luxury brands.
In a fiery press conference on Capitol Hill on Thursday, Santos denied all charges. He went on to claim that efforts to expel him would set a precedent which would “haunt [House members] in the future where mere allegations are sufficient to have members removed from office when duly elected by their people.”
“If I leave, they win. If I leave, the bullies take place. This is bullying,” he added.
During a House debate on his expulsion yesterday, Santos said that he would not resign, saying, “Take the vote. I am at peace.”
Friday’s vote is set to mark the House’s third vote on Santos’s expulsion.
Here are other developments in US politics:
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Donald Trump has renewed his attacks on the wife of the judge in his $250m New York civil fraud case after an appellate court reinstated a gag order on him and his team.
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California governor Gavin Newsom and Florida governor Ron DeSantis went head to head in a debate on Wednesday evening, clashing over crime, abortion and guns.
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Oregon’s Democratic senator Ron Wyden said on Thursday that he will block a Senate vote on the new National Security Agency leader until the NSA releases information on its practice of purchasing and using data location collected on Americans, Politico reports.
