Reps. from the Delaware Valley react to George Santos' expulsion from Congress
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --The historic expulsion of Republican Rep. George Santos from Congress has brought an end to the short-lived congressman's tumultuous tenure in the House. Representatives from the Delaware Valley all voted to oust him and are sharing their thoughts in the aftermath.
In their third attempt to expel him since May, House members voted 311 to 114 in favor of expelling the New York lawmaker, including 105 Republicans who voted for it. Two Democrats voted against ousting Santos. Two members voted present, and eight members did not vote. The resolution required a two-thirds majority to pass. Santos left the House chamber during the vote.
RELATED: Who voted to expel George Santos? Here's the count on the House expulsion resolution
Embroiled in scandals from the start, Santos faced wide-reaching criticism. Critics claimed he embellished his biography to win his seat in Congress last year and federal charges related to alleged fraud and illegal use of campaign funds.
Dozens of Santos' colleagues were apparently swayed by a damning report from the House Ethics Committee released two weeks ago that found there was "substantial evidence" that Santos repeatedly broke the law.
In fact, Santos' trail of alleged offenses can be traced to the Keystone State.
In 2017, Santos was charged with criminal theft in Pennsylvania for bad checks apparently used to buy puppies from dog breeders, according to a lawyer who worked with Santos on the case. However, the case was ultimately dismissed after Santos said the nine checks, totaling more than $15,000, were from a checkbook that had been stolen from him, according to information provided to The Associated Press.
The charges date to a time when Santos claimed to be leading a group, Friends of Pets United, that benefited sick, abandoned or neglected animals.
The bipartisan vote to expel Santos makes him just the sixth House member in U.S. history to be expelled and the first in more than 20 years.
When looking at the list of members who were expelled from Congress that Santos has now joined, one of them represented the Philadelphia area.
Former Democratic Rep. Michael J. "Ozzie" Myers represented Pennsylvania's 1st district encompassing all of Bucks County and a sliver of Montgomery County — which has been represented by Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick since 2019.
Myers was expelled from Congress in 1980 after being caught taking bribes in the Abscam sting investigation and served more than a year in prison.
More recently, Myers was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison in 2022 after pleading guilty to violations of election law, conspiracy, bribery and obstruction for his work on behalf of Democratic candidates from 2014 and 2018.
Here's what representatives in the Delaware Valley are saying in the wake of Santos' expulsion:
Pennsylvania
Rep. Dwight Evans (D)
I will vote to EXPEL Rep. George Santos from the House. I’m deeply troubled by the repeated serious lies that he has been caught in, the serious allegations in the House Ethics Committee report, and the repeated shielding of him by House Republican leadership.
— Congressman Dwight Evans🟧 (@RepDwightEvans) December 1, 2023
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R)
My statement on the George Santos expulsion vote: pic.twitter.com/vGITH81UYI
— Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick 🇺🇸 (@RepBrianFitz) December 1, 2023
Rep. Madeleine Dean (D)
Today I voted to expel Rep. George Santos.
— Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (@RepDean) December 1, 2023
The privilege of serving in Congress demands truth, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to the rule of law.
The House Ethics Committee’s report clearly showed that Mr. Santos consistently failed to meet this standard. pic.twitter.com/80G7SmE2wx
Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D)
Santos should have his day in court for his alleged criminal activity, but he has admitted that he defrauded the voters. That demands expulsion. GOP leadership's refusal to hold him accountable is a prime example of their unwillingness to put people over politics. https://t.co/Aaui7uXD7Y
— Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (@RepMGS) December 1, 2023
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D)
During previous votes to expel Rep. Santos, I remained neutral because I felt strongly that we needed to first see the House Ethics Committee's report on his criminal wrongdoings. Today, now that I've read the full report, I voted to expel him from the House of Representatives.
— Chrissy Houlahan (@RepHoulahan) December 1, 2023
Rep. Susan Wild (D)
Serving in Congress is a privilege. When a member breaks public trust, it is our duty to hold them accountable. The Ethics Committee’s report speaks for itself: Mr. Santos’ misconduct and illegal activity proves him unworthy of serving the people he represents. pic.twitter.com/tyl4OLVfvo
— Rep. Susan Wild (@RepSusanWild) November 30, 2023
Delaware
Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D)
Today, I voted to expel George Santos from Congress.
— Lisa Blunt Rochester (@LisaBRochester) December 1, 2023
He abandoned his oath of office, lied to voters, and abused their trust.
His expulsion is good news. The time is now to restore integrity to the district he failed and to Congress.