In a historic vote, US lawmakers expel scandal-plagued Congressman George Santos

US lawmakers held a historic voting on Friday (Dec 1) and expelled scandal-plagued George Santos from the House of Representatives.

Santos, who is known to have lied his way into Congress, was indicted on charges of using stolen donor cash to lead a lavish lifestyle.

The New York Republican, who was expelled in an overwhelming vote which saw more than 100 of his fellow party members extend their support to his ousting, is only the third person to have joined the gallery of Washington's ejected lawmakers since the Civil War.

A two-thirds majority was required in voting to expel Santos and the final tally was 311-114 on Friday (Dec 1). Just before the voting, House Speaker Mike Johnson said that he would vote against the expulsion of Santos.

The 35-year-old politician has been surrounded by controversies since his November 2022 election. He has accepted that he has fabricated his biography, and he has been accused by federal prosecutors of laundering campaign funds as well as defrauding donors. Santos had earlier pleaded not guilty to 23 federal fraud charges, however, he was not tried.

Also read: Who is George Santos? Know about his myriad controversies

A previous expulsion attempt was survived by Santos in early November, when 182 Republicans as well as 31 Democrats gave votes against his removal citing that his criminal case needs to be resolved first.

The expulsion of Santos has reduced the slim majority of Republicans to 221-213. His district, which covers parts of Long Island and New York City and Long Island, is considered as competitive.

Santos' streak of lies and scandals

Last month, in a bipartisan congressional investigation it was discovered that Santos paid nearly $4,000 for spa treatments, which included Botox, using his congressional campaign account. It was also reported that more than $4,000 of campaign money was spent by Santos at the luxury retail store Hermes.

He also made "smaller purchases" from OnlyFans, which is an online platform famous for sexual content.

This led several Republicans, who had supported him November elections, to say that they would support his expulsion. Santos had also said he may get expelled.

Watch: US: George Santos legal woes deepens, defies calls to resign ahead of third expulsion vote

Santos spurned appeals to resign but claimed that he won't run for reelection next year.

Speaking on the House floor on Thursday (Nov 30), Santos said, "I have been convicted of no crimes. The people of the Third (Congressional) District of New York sent me here."If they want me out, they're going to have to go silence those people and take the hard vote."

The troubles started brewing for Santos just after his November 2022 election when media outlets claimed that he had not attended New York University or been employed at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, which he had claimed in the campaign.

His claims of Jewish heritage and that his grandparents had fled the Nazis in World War II were also reported to be false.

(With inputs from agencies)