The expulsion of George Santos is up for a vote in the House after Democrats demand it

House Democrats took action on Tuesday to compel a vote on removing New York Rep. George Santos from Congress.

This effort is expected to fail but forces Republicans to defend a charged colleague.

The newly elected Republican congressman is accused of embezzling cash from his campaign, obtaining unemployment benefits in error, and lying to Congress about his financial situation.

He has entered a not-guilty plea and disputed the allegations.

A resolution to expel Santos was presented by Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., in February.

The House has only done this twice in recent years, and a two-thirds majority is needed.

He introduced the bill into the House on Tuesday, following a procedure that gives MPs till Thursday to pass it.

Republicans could vote to put the initiative on hold. Alternatively, they might refer it to the House Ethics Committee for review, which House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, said he preferred to do.

Both initiatives demand a majority vote. Republicans may simply permit a vote in the House on Garcia’s expulsion proposal, although that is doubtful.

“I wished he would step down. Regarding his choice to bring the measure up this week, Garcia said, “We gave him plenty of time to do it. “It’s time for him to go, and his other freshman Republican colleagues agree.”

Santos has resisted calls for his resignation and is continuing to pursue reelection despite the federal allegations he is facing.

Following his indictment, Santos told reporters,

“This is the beginning of my ability to address and defend myself.” Requests for comment regarding Garcia’s resolution were not immediately answered by his office.

Republican leaders have argued that Santos needs a trial before Congress takes anything.

The stance taken by Republican leaders largely adheres to the precedent that Congress has established over the years in previous criminal cases.

Only two members have been kicked out of the House in recent years, and both times it was after the legislator had been found guilty on federal charges.

McCarthy promised to speak with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, about bringing the resolution to the Ethics Committee, which is currently looking into whether Santos committed any illegal acts concerning his congressional campaign.

Democrats have started using the effort to remove Santos as giving New Yorkers the “honest representation they deserve” to link him to the Republican brand, particularly in crucial swing areas.

Rep. Suzan DelBene, the head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, declared that “now is the time for members of Congress to demonstrate where they stand and expel George Santos from Congress.”