House Panel Finds Evidence of Rep. Santos Crimes

Updated Nov. 16, 2023, 5:00 p.m. EST

• The House Ethics Committee found "substantial evidence" that Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) violated federal law in using campaign funds for personal purposes, defrauding donors, and filing false financial disclosure reports. This could lead to another vote to expel the representative. Numerous Congress members declared they would vote to remove Santos if the committee found criminal wrongdoing in their investigation. 
• The committee voted unanimously to provide its findings to the Department of Justice for further investigation, saying Santos' actions "[warrant] public condemnation, [are] beneath the dignity of the office, and [have] brought severe discredit upon the House."
• Amid the controversy, Santos announced that he would not be seeking re-election.

Updated Nov. 2, 2023, 2:30 p.m. EST

• Rep. George Santos survived a vote to expel him from the House on Wednesday. New York Republicans led the effort to remove him as a representative. 
• The resolution failed to gain the necessary two-thirds vote, with 179 for expulsion and 213 against.
• Santos is under a House Ethics Committee investigation and faces criminal charges.

Updated May 17, 2023

• Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) introduced a resolution to expel Rep. George Santos (R-NY) from Congress. While the measure is expected to fail, it will force House Republicans to go on the record about the New York Rep.
• Garcia said:

"George Santos is a fraud and a liar, and he needs to be expelled by the House. Republicans now have a chance to demonstrate to Americans that an admitted criminal should not serve in the House of Representatives."

• Any motion to expel a House member requires a two-thirds vote.
• Santos is maintaining his innocence and insisting on remaining in Congress. He has been facing calls from GOP members to resign.

Updated May 10, 2023

• Rep. George Santos pleaded not guilty to all of the charges laid before him at a Wednesday afternoon court hearing. His attorney and federal prosecutors agreed upon a $500,000 bond while legal processings continue. 
• Santos can only travel to New York City and Washington, D.C., moving forward. He received permission from the prosecutors and the federal judge to continue campaigning. 
• House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he would not demand that Santos resigned.

What's the story?

• New York Republican Congressman George Santos is in federal custody after turning himself in this morning.
• Charges against the first-term representative include fraud, money laundering, and theft of public funds.
• Santos is facing two counts of lying to the U.S. House of Representatives, including:
  • How much money he earned from his company, the Devolder Organization
  • Having a checking account with an amount between $100,000 and $250,000

• Investigations are underway into allegations that Santos fabricated portions of his background and deceived individuals into donating to bogus charities.
• Although the 34-year-old Santos has admitted to exaggerating aspects of his employment history, he has rejected calls for his resignation, including those from fellow Republicans.

This is an ongoing story and will be updated.