GOP Member Looks to Ban Santos From House Access

(Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, R-N.Y., one of expelled Rep. George Santos’ biggest GOP critics, is seeking to ban ousted members from setting foot on the House floor or other Capitol areas that former members are allowed to access.

D’Esposito is expected to introduce a resolution Friday that would change the rules to “deny certain privileges” to expelled members of the House, according to Politico, which obtained a copy of the resolution.

“Americans deserve lawmakers who exercise the highest degree of respect for the House of Representatives as a pillar of our democracy, and when House members are expelled for violating the public’s trust, they should no longer be able to access resources afforded to them as a lawmaker,” D’Esposito said in a statement.

“My resolution will establish new standards by which expelled frauds are barred from further staining this storied institution,” he added.

Among the privileges D’Esposito’s resolution would deny are access to the members’ gym, the members-only dining room in the Capitol and exclusive parking spaces. Access to materials in the Library of Congress or the House document room would also be blocked by the measure.

If the resolution passes, expelled members would also lose their member’s pin, which grants them access to the House floor, in addition to other areas restricted to those who have previously or currently served as lawmakers.

D’Esposito, whose district adjoins the one Santos formerly represented, was among a group of Republican lawmakers who led the campaign to remove Santos from office. On Dec. 1, Santos was expelled from the House by a 311-114 vote, becoming just the sixth member in the chamber’s history to be ousted by colleagues.

Earlier this year, Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., promoted a similar idea that would only bar expelled members such as Santos from returning to the House floor.

Torres announced his GEORGE (Getting Expelled Officially Revokes Guaranteed Entry) Rule on March 8 — the day after Santos unexpectedly turned up at President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address.