WASHINGTON - The George Santos saga may soon reach its climax on Capitol Hill, as the House prepares to vote on the expulsion of the indicted New York Republican congressman. Santos, who is facing a slew of legal troubles, including charges of using campaign funds for personal expenses, could be voted out as early as this week following a scathing Ethics Committee report.

The report, released on November 16, concluded that Santos had utilized his campaign funds to pay for a range of personal expenses, including rent, luxury items, trips, cosmetic treatments like Botox, as well as a subscription to the adult-content site OnlyFans. Additionally, the report found that Santos had deceived his donors and knowingly submitted false campaign finance statements. Santos has vehemently denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the federal charges.

Ethics Chairman Michael Guest, a Republican from Mississippi, has taken steps to expel Santos from Congress and filed a resolution to that effect prior to the Thanksgiving break. Upon the House's return on Tuesday, Guest may push for a vote on the resolution later in the week.

In a previous attempt, Santos survived an effort led by his fellow New York Republicans to remove him from office. However, the release of the damning ethics report seems to have prompted a shift among those who originally defended Santos, with several now stating their intention to vote in favor of his expulsion.

While it typically requires a two-thirds majority in the House to expel a member, Santos himself has acknowledged that his time in Congress is likely coming to an end. In a recent online rant, he predicted becoming just the sixth person in history to be expelled from the House of Representatives.

If Santos is indeed expelled, it would trigger a special election to fill his competitive Long Island-based seat, which was carried by President Joe Biden in the 2020 election. The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter currently rates the race as "Lean Democrat," presenting a potential pick-up opportunity for the Democratic Party.

In addition, Santos' expulsion would narrow the Republican Party's majority in Congress to 220-213, providing even less room for maneuvering when it comes to passing legislation. Furthermore, speculation has circulated that former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Republican from California, may step down during his term, though he has dismissed these rumors.

Throughout Santos' brief tenure in Washington, controversy has seemingly followed him at every turn. This week will be no different, as progressive group MoveOn Political Action plans to greet lawmakers returning to Capitol Hill with a 15-foot inflatable depiction of Santos, demanding his resignation.

As of now, the timing of the expulsion vote remains uncertain. While speaking to reporters in Sarasota, Florida, Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, stated that it "remains to be seen" if the vote will take place this week, citing ongoing discussions with Santos about his options.

Expulsion from Congress is an exceedingly rare occurrence, with only five members having been expelled in history. Three of these members were removed for their disloyalty during the Civil War, while the other two were expelled after being convicted of federal crimes.

Santos, who currently faces multiple federal charges, including identity theft, money laundering, and theft of public funds, is slated to stand trial in September of next year. Both Santos and his supporters argue that expulsion prior to his trial would set a precedent, emphasizing a presumption of guilt before innocence.

"I will stand for expulsion," Santos stated during his appearance on X Spaces. "I want to see them set this precedent. Because this precedent sets a new era of due process... you are guilty until proven innocent."

As these events unfold, Santos appears resolute in his stance, claiming that if expelled, he would wear it as a "badge of honor" and expressing his weariness with the current state of affairs in Congress.