U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez (D-8) says that he didn’t vote to expel U.S. Rep. George Santos (R-NY) because it would’ve “set a bad precedent for this institution.”
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Last night, I joined over 30 of my House Democratic colleagues to prevent what we believe would be a bad precedent for this institution. In the history of our country, only five Members of Congress have been expelled, three for joining the Confederacy, two after being convicted of serious crimes,” Menendez said in a statement.
“A decision of this magnitude must not be based on our opinions about the suitability of a colleague or their politics. Instead, it must be based on facts and the final determinations of any ongoing legal proceedings or investigation by the House Ethics Committee.”
He continued that House seats must be left in the hands of their respective voters in the absence of those steps being completed, as well as that he looks forward to tackling the challenges ahead of them both domestically and abroad.
The resolution to expel Santos, who represents New York’s 3rd District, failed 213-179, which, as Menendez mentioned, saw 31 Democrats vote no.
Santos has been indicted by federal prosecutors twice in 2023, facing 23 counts including wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, making materially false statement to the House, aggravated identity theft, and credit card fraud.
The fellow freshman congressman expectedly applauded the fact that he survived last night’s vote.
“Tonight was a victory for due process not me. This was never about me, and I’ll never let it become about me. We all have rights under this great Constitutional Republic and I’ll fight for our right to uphold them till my last dying breath,” he tweeted.
Menendez’s father, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), has his own well-documented legal woes, being accused of accepting jewelry, hundreds of thousands of dollars, and a car to act as a foreign agent of Egypt, according to his recently unsealed federal indictments.
While a select few such as U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (D-3), who is running for Menendez’s Senate seat in June, U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-NJ), and Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, a longtime political adversary, have called for him to be expelled in light of his superseding indictment, a vote there still appears to be a ways off, if ever.
Just a reminder that we could have had a principled progressive representing us in Congress, but got a corporatist nepo baby instead. Bet he’s already got a plan to move into Daddy’s seat when the dominos falls.
The precedent here is the no good, absolutely very bad and selfish father who put both his children under a cloud from which they may never emerge.
Same excuse Repub senators used for not impeaching Donald Dumpster-fire. At least Repub senators could have voted to disqualify Orange Lucifer from holding public office. They wimped out, just like Dems did on the Santos vote. Puh-leaze. You think GOP hyenas would have spared booting an indicted Dem?
“He continued that House seats must be left in the hands of their respective voters…” Right — just as our congressional seat was left in voters’ hands when he “ran” for the House last year. As if we were given a real choice. As if we are ever given a real choice!
He was shoved down our throats, just as all the sleazy, often recycled, often criminal, HCDO endorsed candidates are forced on us every year.
The apple does not fall far from the tree. Menendez has shown his true colors after less than a year in office.
Andy Kim will get my vote in 2024.