Politics

Marjorie Taylor Greene rages as likely Santos expulsion exposes rifts in GOP ranks

By Jake Beardslee · November 30, 2023

Congressman George Santos faces likely expulsion from the House of Representatives this week, following a scathing report from the House Ethics Committee detailing fraudulent and potentially criminal activity. Santos himself acknowledged the math “doesn’t look good,” stating bluntly during an online X Spaces talk, “I know I’m going to get expelled.”

The Ethics Committee accused Santos of illegally financing his campaign, as well as conning his own donors, among other infractions. Federal prosecutors have already brought criminal charges against the New York congressman for previous lies and deceits. Santos gained notoriety shortly after his election last fall when journalists uncovered he had fabricated major parts of his biography.

Santos’ imminent ousting from Congress has angered some fellow Republicans, including the controversial Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene. Greene complained on the social media platform X that House Republicans were expelling “a not yet convicted Republican member” while failing to impeach key members of the Biden administration like Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has reportedly indicated impeaching President Biden is not an immediate priority given the president’s unpopularity. Greene remains focused on removing Biden from office, though a recent bipartisan House vote blocked Republican efforts to impeach Mayorkas.

The Ethics Committee report appears to be the last straw for many Republicans unwilling to tolerate Santos’ mounting case. Yet Greene and some other GOP members seem to perceive expelling Santos as a political betrayal, even as he faces likely criminal prosecution.