Washington, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives is gearing up for a crucial vote on Friday that could determine the fate of scandal-plagued Republican George Santos, who is currently facing criminal corruption charges and new accusations of misusing campaign funds. The first-term lawmaker has come under intense scrutiny after a report by his House colleagues suggested that federal prosecutors should consider bringing additional charges against Santos, 35, who is accused of fabricating significant aspects of his life story during his election campaign. The motion to expel Santos from office requires a two-thirds majority vote in the House, which is currently under Republican control by a narrow 222-213 majority. House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that party leaders will not dictate how rank-and-file Republicans should vote on the matter, as some believe Santos should not be expelled until his criminal case is resolved.

Despite Johnson’s reservations and concerns about setting a precedent, the House is expected to vote on Santos’ expulsion on Friday, as confirmed by Republican aides. Santos’ district, which includes a small portion of New York City, is considered to be a competitive one. The bipartisan Ethics Committee recently released a report on allegations that Santos perpetrated campaign finance fraud, citing a pattern of poor bookkeeping and misuse of campaign funds that has raised serious questions about the integrity of the House. Santos has previously pleaded not guilty to federal charges of laundering campaign funds to cover personal expenses and other campaign finance violations. He has also faced accusations of falsely reporting loans received during his unsuccessful 2020 congressional campaign and engaging in possibly illegal spending of campaign funds on extravagant items.

Following the release of the report, Santos announced that he would not seek reelection in 2024 but refused to step down before then. The Ethics Committee has referred evidence of further unlawful conduct to the Justice Department, including new details of falsely reported loans, improper loan repayments, and systemic reporting errors in Santos’ 2020 and 2022 campaigns. The report also uncovered lavish and potentially illegal spending of campaign funds, such as significant expenditures on luxury brands and Botox, as well as smaller purchases from a website known for sexual content. While a previous vote to expel Santos from the House failed on Nov. 1 due to the need to protect the Republican majority, it remains to be seen whether he will receive the same support this time around. Many of the Republicans who voted against expulsion have indicated that they may not do so again, signaling potential trouble for Santos. The lawmaker had previously faced public backlash after it was revealed that he exaggerated his personal and professional history, leading to his ostracization by some of his House colleagues and becoming the subject of ridicule by late-night TV comedians. Santos has since acknowledged fabricating significant aspects of his resume.