GOP-led House takes preliminary vote to expel Santos, final vote set for Friday

The GOP-led House on Thursday took a preliminary vote expel Republican Rep. George Santos on Friday.

The chamber approved the resolution with a voice vote, then a recorded vote was requested. 

Santos has acknowledged having fabricated much of his resume for his winning 2022 congressional campaign. And he was indicted in October in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on numerous federal charges including wire and credit card fraud in connection with campaign contributions.

More recently, the House Ethics Committee investigation found that Santos misused campaign funds for personal expenses and "engaged in fraudulent conduct in connection with RedStone Strategies LLC."

Santos has refused to resign instead of being expelled and has questioned the committee's findings. 

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Wednesday that House members should vote their conscience, emphasizing that the House GOP leadership team is not advising GOP lawmakers to vote one way or the other.

Johnson said some GOP members think the expulsion vote should come only if Santos is convicted of a crime.

"That's been the precedent so far," he said.

It is currently unclear lawmakers will first vote on a motion to table the expulsion resolution.

“It’s not been decided yet," House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., said on Wednesday.