WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Home of Representatives will vote on Wednesday on whether or not or to not expel Republican congressman after he was indicted on corruption prices, a extremely uncommon transfer that would erode his occasion’s slender majority.
The 35-year-old New York lawmaker on Oct. 27 pleaded not responsible to a 23-count federal indictment accusing him of crimes together with laundering funds to pay for his private bills, illegally receiving unemployment advantages and charging donors’ bank cards with out their consent.
It requires a vote by two-thirds of the chamber to expel a lawmaker. Solely 5 individuals have been expelled from the Home within the nation’s historical past, three for preventing towards the U.S. authorities within the Civil Struggle.
Expelling the first-term lawmaker would additional imperil Republicans’ slender 221-212 majority, as a substitute can be chosen in a particular election. Santos represents a small slice of New York Metropolis and components of its jap suburbs, and nonpartisan election forecasters say Democrats might recapture the seat.
Republican lawmakers from Santos’ state of New York mentioned final month they’d introduce a decision to expel Santos, however the transfer was delayed by weeks when the Home was leaderless following the ouster of Speaker .
Republicans on Oct. 25 elected Mike Johnson, who has mentioned he doesn’t help expelling Santos for being charged with a criminal offense, to succeed McCarthy.
Santos has been ensnared in controversy since shortly after profitable election in November, when he was accused of fabricating a lot of his biography on the marketing campaign path.
The corruption prices towards Santos additionally embody reporting a false $500,000 marketing campaign mortgage and mendacity to the Home about his belongings.
A trial for Santos is scheduled for Sept. 9, 2024, shortly earlier than the elections that can decide management of the White Home and each congressional chambers.
The Home Ethics Committee has additionally mentioned it’s trying into allegations involving Santos. The investigative subcommittee contacted 40 witnesses, reviewed greater than 170,000 pages of paperwork and approved 37 subpoenas, the committee mentioned.
The ethics panel mentioned it will announce its subsequent steps by Nov. 17.
(Reporting by Makini Brice; Enhancing by Scott Malone and Jonathan Oatis)
