12:08 PM ET, December 1, 2023
What is expected to happen next for Santos’ House seat after being kicked out of Congress?
From CNN’s Haley Talbot and Christine Wilson
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images
With a House vote Take out New York GOP Rep. George Santos From the chamber, a series of proceedings are now expected to take place in the chamber and state he represents:
In Congress: According to a former member of parliament, expulsion is handled administratively in the same way as a vacancy, including death or resignation. The Clerk of the House assumes control of the office and makes decisions on behalf of that office. They will decide how Santos’ office is disposed of, among other steps. His district office remains intact for constituency needs.
In New York: The Clerk of the House will notify the Governor of New York that there is now a vacancy in New York’s Third District. It’s up to Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul to schedule a special election to replace him. New York state law requires the governor to declare a special election within ten days, with the election occurring “not less than seventy days nor more than eighty days” after the proclamation.
However: There is some fungus. Following the resignation of GOP Rep. Tom Reed, the 10-day or 70-80 day parameters for scheduling a special election were not followed. Additionally, the House — and New York — are looking at a second House vacancy due to the resignation of Democratic Rep. Brian Higgins, who announced his resignation in February, and Hochul could tie those special elections at once.
The Discharge Resolution Santos could have forfeited those privileges prior to his sentencing, but there is no clause in the motion to do so. Traficant and Myer were both stripped of their privileges immediately following the eviction vote because they had previously been convicted of crimes they had committed.
But that could change: The council is always changing the rules regarding benefits for ex-members. Privileges for former members were revoked during the Covid-19 pandemic, and site privileges for former members are generally restricted for the State of the Union address. Should Santos 1) be ejected; and 2) we expect a rule change to address that issue if we continue to use privileges as a former member.
