Hoo could have seen this coming.

Santos ethics reports finds ‘substantial evidence’ of criminal wrongdoing

A bipartisan ethics report concludes there is “substantial evidence” that George Santos violated federal criminal laws, which will almost certainly trigger another attempt to expel him from the House.

The explosive report released Thursday by the House Ethics Committee found that Santos spent campaign funds on Botox treatments and lavish Atlantic City trips with his husband. It also details the New York Republican’s efforts to obscure his money trail, as he sought to build a “fictional” financial narrative on official records, according to the 55-page report.

At nearly every opportunity, he placed his desire for private gain above his duty to uphold the Constitution, federal law, and ethical principles,” the report reads. “Santos sought to fraudulently exploit every aspect of his House candidacy for his own personal financial profit.”

The panel, which adopted the report unanimously on Tuesday, did recommend that Santos be publicly condemned after finding his conduct was “beneath the dignity of the office and to have brought severe discredit upon the House.”

That’s expected to happen soon. House Ethics Chairman Michael Guest plans to soon file a motion to expel Santos, triggering a vote within days of the House returning from its Thanksgiving recess, according to two people familiar with the discussions.

Two previous efforts to sanction Santos — including an expulsion push — failed, though some Republicans indicated they would change their vote if the Ethics panel found evidence of criminal wrongdoing. Still, it’s unclear if enough members would flip to reach the required two-thirds threshold, particularly given GOP concerns over further slimming their already narrow majority.

Courtesy Politico
[Post edited by Lazarus at 11/16/2023 10:46AM]