The North Country's Congresswomen Vote to Keep George Santos in Office

By Cara Chapman. NCPR Champlain Valley Reporter.

More than 110 Republicans joined Democrats to oust Rep. George Santos from Congress Friday morning, making Santos the sixth lawmaker in history to ever be voted out of the chamber.

Both of the North Country’s Representatives, Republicans Elise Stefanik and Claudia Tenney, voted to keep Santos in Congress.

Stefanik was an early supporter of the first-term congressman. She endorsed him in August 2021, calling him “my friend and fellow America First conservative.” She also said he had her full support.

But as revelations that he’d lied about his past and indictments on multiple fraud charges have rolled out, Stefanik has been largely silent on Santos.

She’s maintained that she thinks due process should play out, a sentiment she echoed this week.

The other five lawmakers voted out of office since the mid-1800s were ousted after being convicted of a crime or fighting for the Confederacy.

Santos faces 23 federal counts related to corruption that’s tied to his 2022 campaign. He survived a previous vote for his expulsion last month.

This latest bid gained momentum after a House Ethics Committee report corroborated the federal accusations and revealed new allegations.

In a Friday post to X, formerly known as Twitter, Stefanik said no member of Congress had ever been expelled without a conviction.

“This is a dangerous precedent and I am voting no based upon my concerns regarding due process. I have said from the beginning that this process will play out in the judicial system which it currently is.”

In a statement explaining her vote, Tenney said Santos’ alleged conduct revealed in the House Ethics report “will more than likely lead to a conviction of Santos in a court of law before a jury of his peers.”

“However, Santos has not been afforded Constitutionally guaranteed due process, which includes the right to offer a defense and to cross-examine the evidence against him, which must be provided to every citizen,” Tenney added.

Santos represented New York’s 3rd Congressional District, which includes parts of Long Island and Queens. He flipped the district in 2022, helping Republicans take back the House with a narrow majority.

Now that the seat is vacant, state law requires a special election to determine who will fill it.

Reprinted with permission from NCPR.