New York: George Santos Cries' Bullying' Ahead of Congress Expulsion Voting
Facing possible expulsion from the US House, indicted New York Republican Congressman George Santos dismisses colleagues' disapproval as political "theater" and "bullying." Drew Angerer/Getty Images

In the face of looming expulsion from Congress, Representative George Santos (R-New York) defiantly declared on Thursday that he was being "bullied" by fellow House members.

As a crucial vote on his expulsion approaches, Santos warned that if successful, it could set a precedent leading to the downfall of other lawmakers in the future, the Washington Post noted.

Standing in front of the US Capitol on a chilly morning, Santos, surrounded by reporters, continued to assert that he would never resign.

The New York representative dismissed the House Ethics Committee report, which outlined numerous fraud and ethics violation allegations against him, as incomplete and "littered with hyperbole." He denounced the proceedings as mere theater for the public, arguing that it hindered real legislative work despite the mounting pressure.

"Take the vote, guys. I'm okay with it. This is your time," George Santos said, daring his colleagues during the House debate later in the day to vote for his expulsion.

The latest effort to remove Santos from office, initiated by Ethics Committee Chairman Rep. Michael Guest (R-Miss.), comes in the wake of a scathing Ethics Committee report. The report alleges a litany of campaign fund misuse, leading to a vote expected on Friday, requiring a two-thirds majority for passage.

George Santos Scandal Unfolds

House members are set to cast their votes on whether to expel the New York Congressman, George Santos, on Friday, responding to revelations from the House Ethics Committee report.

The committee concluded that Santos "cannot be trusted" due to allegations of campaign fund misuse, according to PEOPLE.

The report prompted Ethics Committee Chairman Rep. Michael Guest to revive calls for Santos' removal based on new evidence uncovered in their extensive investigation.

George Santos, who had faced calls to forfeit his seat even before his swearing-in, expressed his disbelief at the unexpected turn of events.

The first-term congressman has spent nearly 11 months in office, grappling with 23 federal charges, including money laundering, aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, and making false statements to the House of Representatives and Federal Election Commission.

Santos, who pleaded not guilty to all counts, is accused of unauthorized charges on his campaign donors' credit cards for personal gain.

George Santos' Congressional Stint Under Scrutiny

At 35 years old, Santos, a first-term congressman, faces criminal campaign finance charges and has admitted to fabricating much of his biography.

In a one-hour debate, Santos found support from three Republicans defending him on procedural grounds, while eight Democrats and Republicans called for his removal.

The New York Congressman survived one expulsion vote earlier this month but faces increased odds this time.

A bipartisan congressional probe revealed evidence of campaign money spending on Botox, luxury brands, and OnlyFans, an online platform known for explicit content, Reuters reported.

Some Republicans who previously opposed his removal withdrew their support, prompting a challenging situation for Santos.

Undeterred, Santos filed a motion to force an expulsion vote against Democratic Representative Jamaal Bowman, who pleaded guilty in October to triggering a fire alarm before a vote. However, the likelihood of success is low, requiring substantial Democratic support.

"This is just another meaningless stunt in his long history of cons, antics, and outright fraud," Bowman stated before Santos filed the motion.

Despite the growing pressure, New York Rep. George Santos declared he would not seek reelection next year. Isolated in Congress with little influence, he remains defiant, predicting his forced exit in Friday's vote while expressing pride in his congressional record.

"I wish I could do more, (but) if this is it, this is it," Santos stated.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Rep. George Santos to face expulsion vote on Friday - From MSNBC