Speaking to CNN on Thursday, George Santos’s former communications director Naysa Woomer said Santos is “not a victim…this is an issue that was of his own making.”
Woomer, who resigned from Santos’s team in May after Santos was indicted on wire fraud and money laundering charges, added:
“If we’re looking to earn the trust back of the American people, let this serve as an example by expelling someone who is truly unfit to serve.”
"If we are looking to earn the trust back of the American people, let this serve as an example by expelling someone who is truly unfit to serve."
During Thursday’s House debate on George Santos’s expulsion, Florida’s Republican representative Matt Gaetz came to Santos’s defense, saying:
“Whatever Mr. Santos did with Botox or OnlyFans is far less concerning to me than the indictment against senator Menendez who’s holding gold bars inscribed with Arabic on them from Egypt while he is still getting classified briefings.”
“Whatever Mr. Santos did with Botox or OnlyFans is far less concerning to me than the indictment against Sen. Menendez who’s holding gold bars … from Egypt while he is still getting classified briefings.”
Gaetz referred to New Jersey’s Democratic senator Bob Menendez who was charged in October with conspiring to act as a foreign agent on behalf of Egypt. Menendez has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
The House vote on George Santos’s expulsion is expected to take place at 10:30am ET today.
The House is set to vote on the expulsion of George Santos, the disgraced New York Republican representative who has been indicted on charges of wire fraud and money laundering.
The House vote follows a report released by the House ethics committee earlier this month which detailed “pervasive fraud” and alleged Santos used campaign funds on various personal gains including Botox, OnlyFans and luxury brands.
In a fiery press conference on Capitol Hill on Thursday, Santos denied all charges. He went on to claim that efforts to expel him would set a precedent which would “haunt [House members] in the future where mere allegations are sufficient to have members removed from office when duly elected by their people.”
“If I leave, they win. If I leave, the bullies take place. This is bullying,” he added.
During a House debate on his expulsion yesterday, Santos said that he would not resign, saying, “Take the vote. I am at peace.”
Friday’s vote is set to mark the House’s third vote on Santos’s expulsion.
Here are other developments in US politics:
Donald Trump has renewed his attacks on the wife of the judge in his $250m New York civil fraud case after an appellate court reinstated a gag order on him and his team.
California governor Gavin Newsom and Florida governor Ron DeSantis went head to head in a debate on Wednesday evening, clashing over crime, abortion and guns.
Oregon’s Democratic senator Ron Wydensaid on Thursday that he will block a Senate vote on the new National Security Agency leader until the NSA releases information on its practice of purchasing and using data location collected on Americans, Politico reports.