McCarthy says he will ask Ethics Committee to move ‘rapidly’ on resolution to expel George Santos

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he will “quickly” try to refer a Democrat-led resolution to oust disgraced GOP Representative George Santos to the ethics committee.

‘I would like to see the ethics committee work on this quickly. I think there’s enough information now to look into this,” the GOP leader said, in remarks that were a step up from previous times he refused to call for Santos to resign.

He said he would have a meeting with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries about moving the resolution to ethics. “I think they can come back to Congress, probably faster than the trial.”

McCarthy added, “I don’t want to wait for courts to act. I would like to see the House take action and have a procedure.’

House Democrats introduced the resolution to expel Santos after he was charged with a range of crimes during his campaign, including money laundering, bank fraud and making false statements.

The motion, introduced by Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., on Tuesday, requires a two-thirds majority vote in the House — meaning about 70 Republicans should get on board.

McCarthy would need only a simple majority to take the measure to the ethics committee – saving his members the choice between voting to introduce the resolution or voting to exclude him before the ethics review is complete.

After the ethics committee, the full House would vote to expel him.

Santos is already officially subject to an ethics review by the commission, which launched the investigation in March.

The investigation focuses on whether Santos’ engaged in any unlawful activity related to his 2022 congressional campaign; failed to properly disclose required information on depositions submitted to the House; violated federal conflict of interest laws in connection with his role in a company that provides fiduciary services; and/or engaged in sexual misconduct against a person seeking employment in his congressional office,” the House Ethics Committee said in a statement.

If the House ousted Santos, it would trigger a special election in New York’s Third District, where President Biden won by eight points in 2020.

Republicans would be down at least one vote until the seat is filled — a vote they can’t afford to lose with their narrow four-seat majority.

He appeared in court last Wednesday, pleaded not guilty to the 13 charges and was released on $500,000 bail at a pivotal time in his career just four months after being sworn in.

Santos indicated that he will not step down, will still run for re-election and asked why President Biden’s family was not investigated by the Justice Department.

Prosecutors have accused him of using donor funds to buy designer clothes and pay off personal debts and to claim COVID unemployment benefits while running for Congress, earning $125,000 a year.

They also accused him of lying on financial disclosure forms he filed with the House when he became a candidate by overestimating his income from one job and failing to disclose earnings from another. He also allegedly lied about his income from his company, Devolder Organization.

He will appear in court again on June 30 and also had to surrender his passport.

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy has indicated he will not support Santos’ re-election bid, but has not called for him to resign.

He noted that Senator Bob Menendez remained in office after being indicted for bribery.