With Friday’s vote, Santos became only the sixth person ever expelled from the U.S. House of Representatives and only the 20th person expelled from Congress altogether, a figure that incudes those removed for supporting the Confederacy during the Civil War. Santos’ expulsion comes after he was charged with 23 felony charges related to campaign finance fraud and a House Ethics Committee report concluded that he had likely committed the crimes of which he has been accused.

Speaking to CNN immediately after the expulsion vote, Santos said, “The House spoke, that’s their vote,” while adding that “they just set new dangerous precedent for themselves.” CNN noted that, because Santos has not yet been convicted of the crimes of which he has been accused, he could still make use of “nonmember privileges,” such as access to the House floor as well as its cloakroom, dining room and gym. When asked if he would still use those privileges, Santos responded, “Why would I want to stay here? To hell with this place.” After answering questions from CNN, Santos ended his remarks to the news network by saying, ”You know what? As unofficially no longer a member of Congress, I no longer have to answer your questions.”

expulsion

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