George Santos: The House Has Rules

By Rich Kozlovich

Okay, I've managed to offend more people over the course of my life than the vast majority of people, and I have to admit, I'm really quite good at it.  So, I'm going to surprise a bunch more and most likely to offend a few more now.  How?  I'll be doing what I always do.  Define things properly!

There's been a lot of talk about kicking George Santos out of the House, and let's face it, most conservatives, including me,  will find him extremely easy to dislike.  He's gay, he's played the gender transition role, he's lied to get elected beyond anything anyone has seen...probably ever.....and that got him elected, and he's not the least bit repentant of it all.  He's being investigated for financial irregularities, and who knows what all, by just about every authority in the nation, and there's discussion of an ethics hearing in the House.  

I wonder if he'd been elected as a Democrat would he be investigated for anything, and makes you wonder why the Democrats want him kicked out since for all practical purposes, he's one with them, except he's been elected as a Republican.  

It turns out Republicans don't like that he's a Republican and wonder why, "can't we get rid of this guy?"  Which bodes well the question:  Why didn't the Republicans vet him properly in the first place?   Is it possible the Republican party is filled with incompetents?  Wow!  Now that's a shocker, whoddathunkit? 

Can the House expel a member?  Yes, and the Constitution gives them the right to make up their own rules for doing that.  Here's what the Constitution says in Article 1, Section 5 says:

 

 "Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and with the concurrence of two thirds, expel a member."

 

That's all the Constitution says, which means the House determines the grounds for expulsion.

 

Side Bar: I wonder how many of Biden's nominees for the federal judiciary would know that? Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana humiliated a Biden judicial nominee, Charnelle Bjelkengren, by asking her: “Tell me what Article V of the Constitution does,” Kennedy asked as he began his round of questioning. “Article V is not coming to mind at the moment,” Bjelkengren replied. “How about Article II?” Kennedy asked. Bjelkengren replied that didn’t come to mind for her either.

 

Expulsion has happened to five members.  Three for joining the Confederate Army, and two for criminal behavior, for which they were eventually convicted, one in 1980 and one in 2002.  So the question that needs to be asked is what has he done illegally or immorally since being elected?  Nothing I'm aware of.  And no violation is being offered by those demanding McCarthy just kick him out, which would be setting the dangerous precedent of:  

 

"We don't like you so we're going to ignore the voters and kick you out of your legally elected office."

Okay, I'm all for that, just as long as it applies to every member of the House whose lied....while in office.... officially lied.... like Adam Schiff, and those who promoted violence like Maxine Waters.  Why aren't Republican hypocrites demanding they be expelled from the Congress?  They're guilty of easily proven violations of integrity, and in my opinion serious violations of integrity!  All while in office! 

Who knows where that would lead to under a Democrat controlled House?  Be careful what you wish for, you might get it. If he's found guilty of some crime or immoral act, then the House can act in complete harmony with the reasonable and rational precedents set by the history of the House.   If he's not, let the elective process take it's course and let the electorate judge him. 

The point is there is a process involved in expulsion. It is a serious matter, and it requires a process to determine whether it is warranted, since voters chose the member and, in Santos' case, the same voters will have a chance to elect another representative in 21 months. A vote to expel Santos now would be a vote to throw out 200 years of experience and process in the House of Representatives. While it might make some members, and some in the media, happy, it could lead to a lowering of standards for expulsion that could consume both parties in the future. So justice for George Santos will involve process as well as possible punishment. It will not give the instant gratification some in Washington want. But it will be the right thing to do.

There are times I say things that need to be said, that I hate saying, but truth, justice and the America way comes in first and foremost.  Pandering to the mob and their narrative of the moment is neither truth, justice nor the American way, and doesn't even come in a far second.  Get over it!