Editorials

Similarities Between Santos and Traficant

Voters in New York's 3rd Congressional District have a lot weighing on their consciences, as they decide whether Republican U.S. Rep. George Santos is worth their vote in 2024.

Santos has been indicted on 13 federal counts ranging from embezzling money from his campaign to lying to Congress to falsely receiving unemployment funds. He has pleaded not guilty, and House leadership has chosen not to censure or suspend him.

It is mind-boggling a man who has been indicted on charges of unemployment fraud would then be given the opportunity to vote on giving states more incentive to pursue cases of unemployment insurance fraud, for example.

And while a suspect is innocent until proven guilty in this country, it is worth noting that in the midst of his legal woes in the U.S., Santos has also signed a deal to avoid prosecution for forging two stolen checks in Brazil in 2008. Court documents show Santos signed a confession in that case, but it was suspended in 2013 after Santos repeatedly ignored requests to appear personally in court or present a written defense. Prosecutors in Brazil were able to petition to reopen the case when Santos became so visible as a member of Congress.

"The people of New York's 3rd district deserve a voice in Congress," tweeted Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas. "George Santos should be immediately expelled from Congress and a special election initiated at the soonest possible date."

Expulsion may have to wait until there is a conviction. Ohioans will remember it took three months for Democratic Rep. Jim Traficant to be expelled after having been found guilty of 10 federal charges.

But in the meantime, House leadership might want to look more closely at whether there are some votes from which Santos must be excluded.

Congressional leaders who are worried about whether the next representative is a Republican would do well to throw their support behind a conservative who stands for truth and the rule of law. Ultimately, it is up to New York voters to send to D.C. an honest representative who is in it for them.