Santos, a Republican from New York, becomes only the sixth lawmaker in history to be removed from the lower chamber of Congress and the first since 2002.

The decision to oust Santos came after two previous failed attempts. On Friday, lawmakers voted 311 to 114 in favor of the expulsion resolution, with support from 206 Democrats and 105 Republicans. Scattered applause could be heard across the House chamber as the measure was adopted, marking a significant rebuke of Santos's actions.

Santos's tenure in office was marred by a series of controversies and allegations of fraud. Shortly after winning the election in November 2022, it was revealed that he had lied about his Wall Street career, college degrees, and even his Jewish ancestry. These falsehoods were reported by The New York Times, leading to widespread calls for his resignation.

In May, Santos faced further legal troubles when he was hit with 23 felony charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, and theft of public funds. However, he has vehemently denied these allegations and is currently awaiting trial.

The final blow to Santos's congressional career came last month when the House ethics committee found that he had exploited his House candidacy for personal financial gain. The panel's report alleged that Santos used campaign funds for personal expenses such as Botox treatments, credit card debt, and trips to the Hamptons. He was also accused of engaging with OnlyFans, an online platform where users pay for various types of content, including pornography.

Expulsion votes are rare in Congress and require the support of two-thirds of the House. The fact that two previous attempts to remove Santos failed raised concerns among some lawmakers about the precedent it could set. They argued that it would be inappropriate to remove someone who had not been convicted of crimes or faced a court trial. Republican Jim Jordan, who voted against the expulsion, expressed worries about the implications of such a decision.

However, a group of four New York Republicans who were elected alongside Santos pushed for his removal, emphasizing the need to hold members of Congress to a higher standard. One of them, Anthony D'Esposito, stated that the precedent set by this expulsion underscores the accountability expected from lawmakers.

Following his expulsion, Santos announced that he plans to file ethics complaints against several of his former House colleagues, alleging campaign finance violations and questionable stock trading. Meanwhile, constituents in Santos's district welcomed the news of his departure, with one resident simply stating "good riddance."

The expulsion marks a significant moment for democracy, as citizens and activists worked tirelessly to hold Santos accountable. Jody Kassfinkel, one of the campaigners seeking Santos's removal, described it as a "win for democracy" and highlighted the necessity of taking action since Santos showed no intention of resigning on his own.

With the official vote, Congressman George Santos's term in Congress has officially ended. His website has been taken down, his staff's phones now lead to generic voicemails, and the nameplate outside his office has been removed. This expulsion serves as a reminder that no public official is above the law, and the House of Representatives has taken a decisive step towards upholding integrity within its ranks.