House Expels GOP Rep. George Santos

What Happens After the Expulsion of Rep. George Santos?

Rep. George Santos leaves the U.S. Capitol after the House voted to expel him from Congress on December 1. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images

In Congress:

Following the House vote to expel New York GOP Rep. George Santos, several administrative steps are expected to be taken in the chamber and the state he represents.

In the case of expulsion, the process is similar to handling a vacancy, such as death or resignation. The House Clerk assumes control of the office and makes decisions on behalf of that office. The office of Santos will be cleared out, and his district office will remain intact to serve his constituents.

In New York:

The House Clerk will notify the governor of New York about the vacancy in the third district. It will then be up to Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul to schedule a special election to fill the seat. According to New York State law, the proclamation of a special election must be made within ten days, and the election should occur within seventy to eighty days following the proclamation.

However:

There may be flexibility in the timeline for scheduling the special election. In the past, the parameters of ten days and seventy to eighty days were not followed after the resignation of GOP Rep. Tom Reed. Additionally, another House vacancy is anticipated with the upcoming resignation of Democratic Rep. Brian Higgins, and Governor Hochul could choose to combine the special elections.

Santos retains certain privileges:

Unlike previous expulsions, Rep. Santos has not been convicted of a felony. According to the House Rules, until a conviction occurs, Santos retains certain privileges as a former member of Congress. He will have access to the House floor, dining room, gym, and cloakroom, but not security.

But that could change:

The House frequently makes changes to rules regarding privileges for former members. During the Covid-19 pandemic, privileges were revoked, and restrictions are usually placed on floor access for former members during the State of the Union address. If Santos is expelled and continues to exercise these privileges, it is expected that a rules change will address this issue.

Remember:

In addition to the Ethics Committee investigation, Santos has pleaded not guilty to multiple federal charges, including fraud related to Covid-19 unemployment benefits, campaign fund misuse, and lying about his personal finances on House disclosure reports.

Read More of this Story at www.cnn.com – 2023-12-01 18:30:00