The 35-year-old New York lawmaker has pleaded not guilty to charges accusing him of crimes including laundering funds to pay for his personal expenses, illegally receiving unemployment benefits and charging donors’ credit cards without their consent.

The former treasurer for Santos’ campaign pleaded guilty on Oct. 5 to a conspiracy charge for inflating fundraising numbers.

“I must warn my colleagues that voting for expulsion at this point would circumvent the judicial system’s right to due process that I’m entitled to and desanctify the long-held premise that one is presumed innocent until proven guilty,” Santos said ahead of the vote.

Expulsion of a lawmaker requires a vote by two-thirds of the chamber. Only five people have been expelled from the House in the country’s history, three for fighting against the U.S. government in the Civil War.

  • @fosiacat
    link
    7511 months ago

    he’s literally a con man, how is he still in office

    • @instamat
      link
      6411 months ago

      He’s in a conman club and they look out for each other? Idk, I’m just trying to make it make sense.

    • DreamerofDays
      link
      fedilink
      1111 months ago

      The republicans have a thin majority in the House. Even without whatever other justifications that’s a strong incentive not to bleed any more seats. Particularly when Gaetz and the Arson Caucus keeps setting the place on fire.

    • @SpaceNoodle
      link
      1011 months ago

      Conservatives love con men. Were you in a coma since 2015?

    • AnonTwo
      link
      fedilink
      711 months ago

      Based on the last line, you pretty much have to be actively at war with the country to get expelled pretty much.

      There’s not much precedent for it successfully being used for this.

      Not to say he hasn’t done anything wrong, just that there’s not much to expect from this.

    • @ghostdoggtv
      cake
      link
      511 months ago

      It’s literally called con-gress

  • @jordanlund
    link
    6011 months ago

    This is why I keep telling people we can’t pass an Amendment to do things like change gun control.

    It starts with a 2/3rds majority in the House, 290 votes.

    We couldn’t get 290 votes to agree on Santos’ obvious crimimal behavior, we’ll NEVER get it on something like the 2nd Amendment, or Supreme Court term limits, or anything else remotely useful.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      -1011 months ago

      And even with simple majority there’s still stupid argument that ‘if we pass something without bipartisan support, the other party will just revert it when they’re in power’. No shit. That’s how democracy in every civilized country works. Only in US is this preventing the ruling party from doing any serious reforms. And obviously they know. It’s just that both parties are equally corrupt.

      • @jas0n
        link
        2211 months ago

        Ah yes, one of the greatest grifts. Convincing people both sides are equal and promoting apathy.

    • spyd3r
      link
      -1511 months ago

      we’ll NEVER get it on something like the 2nd Amendment

      Why do you want to make people disarmed and defenseless?

      • @RGB3x3
        link
        English
        6
        edit-2
        11 months ago

        Because there’s very little reason to own a gun except to defend yourself against someone with a gun…

        There are SO many more murders committed with firearms than there are any other type of weapon or method.

        If we were to sufficiently restrict firearm ownership, there’d be almost no reason to own one at all.

        • @[email protected]
          link
          fedilink
          English
          311 months ago

          Because there’s very little reason to own a gun except to defend yourself against someone with a gun…

          How fucking privileged of you. Not everyone can beat any random person in a hand to hand fight.

          • @[email protected]
            link
            fedilink
            111 months ago

            Cowardly criminals are more likely to commit a violent crime if they have a gun to hide behind. Doubt most of them would even consider doing some of the stuff they do if they only had access to knives and bats.

          • @RGB3x3
            link
            English
            -111 months ago

            If you’re resorting to fists and further to guns in a dispute, you’re part of the problem.

            A fist fight shouldn’t resort to murder by a gun.

            And there were only 655 murders by fists, kicks, etc. in 2022. It should absolutely not be of any concern.

        • @shalafi
          link
          English
          -811 months ago

          My guns would be FAR more likely used against a crazy animal than a human. But the option is there.

          How much time you spend in the woods and how you set for gators, panthers and bears? And I don’t hunt BTW. But the option is there.

          https://imgur.com/a/pR7CuLA

      • @jordanlund
        link
        411 months ago

        I don’t necessarily, I’m explaining why it won’t happen.

  • uphillbothways
    link
    fedilink
    4011 months ago

    Democrats should make him the poster child Republican. The most honest shining member of the bunch who at least admits he’s blatantly lying. The one they all banded together to save. They deserve him.

    • @ikidd
      link
      English
      9
      edit-2
      11 months ago

      31 Democrats voted to keep him. 24 Republicans voted to boot him. It didn’t even make a simple majority, though that 62 vote swing would helped a bunch.

      • uphillbothways
        link
        fedilink
        4
        edit-2
        11 months ago

        So, he got more support than several of their own candidates for speaker. (I think. Can’t be bothered to look up the numbers. It’s all kinda pointless.)

        • @AngryCommieKender
          link
          511 months ago

          They’re waiting for the official ethics board, or whatever, to make their ruling. It’s not so much that the Dems support Santos, as they do the rules and means of Congress

        • @ikidd
          link
          English
          411 months ago

          You aren’t wrong and that’s pretty funny to think about.

          What a shitshow.

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    English
    1411 months ago

    Who can talk the most lies (who can talk the most lies)

    Pretend they are a Jew (pretend they are a Jew)

    Cover up with sequins for a contest or two

    The Republican can (the Republican can)

    Oh, the Republican can (the Republican can)

    The Republican can 'cause he mixes it with lies

    And makes his world a falsehood (makes his world a falsehood)

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      6
      edit-2
      11 months ago

      The republican fakes;

      obfuscates, opaque,

      always lying and pernicious

      Every statement is fictitious, you could even say malicious

    • @gazby
      link
      311 months ago

      Had to sing it in my head 😂💙

  • mtdyson_01
    link
    fedilink
    English
    611 months ago

    They will not expel him even if he is found guilty because they absolutely need his vote. He will be forced to vote however they want because if he doesn’t he will lose his job and the money and protection his job provides.

  • BeautifulMind ♾️
    link
    English
    511 months ago

    And just like that, a vote that should have been the simplest, most-straightforward choice with one outcome obviously preferable to its alternative, proved to be too much to ask