These House Republicans voted to expel George Santos — but it still wasn’t enough to kick the scandal-plagued lawmaker out of Congress

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Rep. George Santos is staying in Congress, for now.

For the second time this year, the House voted on a resolution to expel the scandal-plagued New York Republican, who faces 23 felony counts from federal prosecutors and national outrage over the myriad fabrications he’s made about his background.

But while many House members — including a number of Republicans — voted for the resolution, it failed to garner the two-thirds majority necessary for the expulsion to take place. The vote was 179 to 213 with 19 voting “present.” More Democrats voted against expelling Santos (31) than Republicans voted to expel him (24).

It’s not that Republicans love George Santos. Plenty of them do not, and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy made clear earlier this year that he did not believe Santos should run for re-election. He does not serve on any House committees, and just one Republican has co-sponsored a bill proposed by the New York congressman.

Furthermore, it was a group of New York Republicans, led by Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, who forced this vote in the first place. Republicans in New York loathe Santos and fear that they could pay a political price next year if they don’t sideline him.

But Republicans writ large are weary of cutting down their already-slim margin in the chamber, particularly given the Democratic lean of Santos’ district and the probability that he would be replaced by a Democrat in the resulting special election.

“We have to allow due process to play itself out. That’s what our system of justice is for. He’s not convicted. He’s charged,” newly-elected House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Fox News last week, pointing to the party’s slim margin.

And on Tuesday, the House Ethics Committee issued a rare statement saying that it would “announce its next course of action” in its ongoing investigation into Santos by November 17 — another factor that may have given Republicans cover to vote against expulsion.

The last time that the House expelled one of its own members was in 2002 when Democratic Rep. Jim Traficant of Ohio was expelled after being convicted on corruption charges.

Santos is not set to face trial until September 2024. Santos has denied the charges.

Here are the Republicans who voted to expel Santos: