US politics: Fraudster should go: House of Representatives throws Santos out | EUROtoday

US-Politics
Fraudster should go: House of Representatives throws Santos out

The scandal-plagued US consultant George Santos is kicked out of the House of Representatives. In a historic vote on Friday, the required majority of the House chamber voted to expel the Republican. It is the primary time in current historical past {that a} consultant who has not beforehand been convicted of a criminal offense has been expelled from the House of Representatives. A member has solely been expelled from the chamber six instances.

“To hell with this place,” the 35-year-old stated to reporters in entrance of the Capitol after the choice. He had been requested whether or not he would stay within the chamber as a non-member with particular rights. This is feasible as a result of he has not but been convicted by any court docket. “Why would I want to stay here?” he replied. However, the House of Representatives has set a “dangerous precedent” with its actions.

Ethics Committee noticed “dignity of the office” violated

The vote follows an investigation by the House Ethics Committee. In mid-November he made severe allegations towards Santos and submitted an investigation report. It says that, amongst different issues, the MP stole marketing campaign funds and defrauded his donors. According to the report, Santos is alleged to have spent marketing campaign funds on cosmetics and luxurious purchases – the committee introduced payments for Botox, for instance.

Santos additionally tried to “blame others for much of the misconduct.” The MP’s lack of honesty is worrying. With his conduct, the politician violated “the dignity of the office” and “severely brought the House of Representatives into disrepute.”

After the report was printed, Santos introduced that he wouldn’t run for re-election subsequent 12 months. He instantly rejected the allegations. The report was “a vile politicized slander,” Santos wrote. “Anyone involved in this serious miscarriage of justice should be ashamed.”

Trial of Santos in New York

There are different severe allegations towards Santos. In a New York trial he was accused of, amongst different issues, fraud and theft. According to the indictment, he’s stated to have, amongst different issues, made false statements to the FEC electoral fee. Prosecutors additionally accuse him of falsifying paperwork, conspiracy towards the United States, fraud, aggravated identification theft, cash laundering and theft of public funds. Santos pleaded not responsible after the indictment was learn. The trial is scheduled to start in September 2024.

Santos has been a member of a New York district within the US House of Representatives for over a 12 months and presents himself as a supporter of former US President Donald Trump. His rise to the federal political stage was overshadowed from the beginning by allegations of fraud and deception.

CV largely invented

Research has proven that Santos invented a big a part of his resume with which he introduced himself to voters in 2022. In it, he posed as a profitable businessman on Wall Street, as an animal rights activist or because the son of Brazilian immigrants who fled the Holocaust. The “New York Times” took a detailed have a look at his resume and got here to the conclusion: college diploma, profession at main banks, household background – all made up.

Santos admitted to “glossing over” his resume, however insisted he was not a liar or a fraud.

Santos’ story is so vital to the United States as a result of the small print are so loopy. So he made up all types of weird particulars which have been refuted – reminiscent of the truth that he was a volleyball star throughout his time at college – which he by no means attended. He claims to have misplaced 4 staff within the assault on the Pulse nightclub within the US state of Florida with 49 deaths. He stated about his mom that she skilled the terrorist assaults on September 11, 2001 within the World Trade Center.

Friday’s vote within the House of Representatives was the third time Santos’ expulsion has been voted on. Twice earlier than, MPs voted towards expulsion. The ethics committee’s investigation report might have persuaded a few of his supporters to not assist him. The vehemence with which he repeatedly introduced himself as an harmless man can also have performed a job.

dpa