Johnson spoke with Santos about 'options' as expulsion drive gains steam

Santos said Friday he expects to be expelled when the resolution come up for a vote.
George Santos, Sept. 29, 2023, Washington, D.C.

House Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday indicated that he had spoken with New York Republican Rep. George Santos amid a growing push to expel him from Congress in the wake of a House Ethics Committee report.

"I’ve spoken to Congressman Santos at some length over the holiday and talked with him about his options. But we’ll have to see. It’s not yet determined, but we’ll be talking about that when we get back tomorrow," Johnson told reporters on Monday, according to The Hill. Johnson did not elaborate on what those "options" were.

"It remains to be seen," he said of a possible expulsion vote this week.

Santos, for his part, stated on Friday that he expected to be expelled when the resolution came up for a vote. During a Twitter Space that day, he insisted he would not resign, saying that to do so would be to "admit everything that’s on that report," the outlet noted.

House Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest, R-Miss., filed the resolution to expel him after releasing the report that found he misled his donors and committed a number of financial improprieties.

"I know I’m going to get expelled when this expulsion resolution goes to the floor," Santos said

Santos announced that he would not seek reelection in 2024 following the report's release.

"I am humbled yet again and reminded that I am human and I have flaws, but I will not stand by as I am stoned by those who have flaws themselves," he said at the time. "I will continue on my mission to serve my constituents up until I am allowed. I will however NOT be seeking re-election for a second term in 2024 as my family deserves better than to be under the gun from the press all the time."

Santos has previously survived an expulsion vote earlier in November.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.