Ethics Report On Rep Santos Expected Soon, Likely Expulsion Vote To Follow

Fox News has reported that a "damming" report from the House Ethics Committee on federally indicted Representative, George Santos (R-NY), is expected "soon."

• Chad Pegram at Fox reports: "The House has only expelled five members in history. Two were convicted of felonies. The other three associated with the Confederacy. It is likely that there will be a push to expel Santos if the committee report is as bad as expected to be."
• The House quashed a motion to expel Santos last week after the Ethics Committee released a statement promising a report before November 17. If the House moves on a motion to expel Santos it will require a two-thirds majority. Although the House GOP leadership has so far refrained from publicly condemning Santos, if the report supports federal accusations of major criminal misconduct it would be politically difficult for the GOP to provide cover for Santos.
• Under normal circumstances, the fate of a single House Rep wouldn't be market moving but, considering the razor thin four-seat GOP majority, the loss of a single vote could prove highly consequential as Congress moves towards complex negotiations to fund the government in late January.
• Santos' 23 count federal indictment includes charges of identity theft, fraud, falsifying records, and misuse of campaign financing.