Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) has explained why he voted against the removal of Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) from the House of Representatives, stating that it would set a “terrible precedent.” The vote ultimately failed, with 31 Democrats and 182 Republicans voting against the resolution, falling short of the two-thirds majority required for passage.
Santos is currently facing 23 felony charges, including wire fraud, credit card fraud, and identity theft. Since his election, there have been calls for his resignation after it was revealed that he had falsified much of his background and qualifications.
Raskin, a well-known progressive, expressed his opposition to the resolution, emphasizing his commitment to the Constitution. He pointed out that Santos has not yet been convicted of the offenses listed in the resolution, nor has he been found guilty of ethics violations through the House internal process. As a constitutional law professor and attorney, Raskin argued that due process and the rule of law should not be abandoned in the House of Representatives.
Raskin acknowledged that there have been only five expulsions in the history of the House, three of which were during the Civil War for fighting against the U.S. government, and two were due to criminal convictions. He stated that if Santos is found guilty in either investigation, he would certainly vote to expel him.
Highlighting that the Republicans may also desire to expel certain Democratic members without convictions or adverse ethics findings, Raskin warned against abandoning due process. He stressed the importance of upholding the rule of law within the House.
Other progressive representatives, including Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Morgan McGarvey (D-Ky.), and Rob Menendez Jr. (D-N.J.), also voted against the resolution. Menendez Jr.’s father, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), has refused to resign despite being indicted on bribery charges.
The expulsion resolution was introduced by Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, a Republican from New York, who leads a group of GOP lawmakers advocating for Santos’ removal.
Despite the ongoing criminal trial scheduled to begin in mid-September, Santos plans to run for reelection in 2024, just two months before the election.
