Party leaders have confirmed that the vote will take place on Friday, with expectations high that Santos will be removed from office due to a damning ethics report.

Republican leaders, including newly appointed Speaker Mike Johnson, have been urging the 35-year-old congressman to resign, hoping to avoid another divisive vote. However, Santos remains defiant, shrugging off the possibility of his removal. In a statement to reporters on Tuesday, Santos dismissed the process as a manifestation of the political class in Washington, D.C.

The upcoming vote holds significant consequences as it is expected that Santos will be the sixth lawmaker in the history of the House to be expelled if the motion passes. Such expulsion votes are relatively rare, highlighting the gravity of the situation.

The House ethics committee recently released a scathing report accusing Santos of numerous violations during his time in office. The report alleged that he "blatantly stole from his campaign" and misused campaign funds for personal gain, including expenditures on Botox treatments, OnlyFans purchases, and luxurious vacations in the Hamptons. Santos vehemently denied these allegations, describing the report as a "politicized smear." However, he did announce that he would not seek a second term in light of the ongoing probe.

Adding to his troubles, Santos is currently facing 23 federal felony charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, and campaign finance violations. Despite these charges, some lawmakers argued against his expulsion, asserting that he should be granted "due process" as he has not been convicted of any crimes. However, several members who initially opposed expulsion have now switched their stance, citing the ethics committee's findings as the reason for their change of heart.

The Democratic party has also filed an expulsion motion as an "insurance policy" in case the Republicans fail to bring their own resolution. This development underscores the bipartisan concern regarding Santos' conduct.

If Santos is expelled, it would further diminish the Republican party's already-tenuous nine-seat majority in the House. Additionally, his removal would trigger a 10-day period for New York's Governor to call for a special election, which would then take place within 70 to 80 days.

The controversy surrounding Santos and the upcoming vote has consumed political discourse, and it remains to be seen how the House members will vote on Friday. Santos, on his part, has been using social media platforms to criticize his colleagues and is expected to express more grievances during a press conference scheduled for Thursday morning.

As the nation observes this pivotal moment in Congress, the outcome of the expulsion vote will undoubtedly have significant implications for both parties involved.