In a significant development, New York Republican Congressman Anthony D'Esposito has introduced a resolution to expel Rep. George Santos from Congress. The move comes just a day before Santos is expected to plead not guilty to additional federal charges. D'Esposito's resolution has been deemed privileged, which means that the House must consider it within two legislative days. Expulsion from Congress requires a two-thirds vote in favor, and since 1861, only five members have been expelled from the House.

The decision to expel Santos stems from the additional federal charges that accuse him of stealing his campaign donors' identities and credit card information for personal financial gain. The superseding indictment also alleges that he falsified campaign finance reports in order to meet fundraising benchmarks and boost his campaign. This renewed effort to expel Santos comes after House Republicans previously blocked a Democratic attempt in May, with then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy arguing that the legal process should be allowed to play out. However, with the introduction of these new charges, the push for expulsion has gained renewed momentum.

Santos is scheduled to appear in court on Friday for his arraignment on the superseding indictment. Despite the mounting charges and calls for his resignation, Santos has remained defiant. He took to social media following the introduction of the expulsion resolution, stating that he still has no plans to step down. Santos asserted his right to due process and expressed his belief that the outcome should not be predetermined.

Several New York Republicans, including Reps. D'Esposito and Nick Lalota, have expressed their support for the expulsion resolution. They anticipate that the measure will gain traction among their fellow House members, particularly in light of the new allegations. The Justice Department recently announced the new federal charges against Santos, including identity theft, unauthorized charges on donors' credit cards, and falsifying campaign finance reports. Prosecutors have accused Santos of fabricating or stealing loans and contributions to inflate his campaign's reported receipts.

Other New York Republicans, such as Reps. Marc Molinaro and Brandon Williams, have also voiced their support for expelling Santos from Congress. Molinaro emphasized that Santos is a "liar and a fraud" who should not be a member of Congress. Frustrated with the slow pace of the House Ethics Committee's investigation, these Republicans are pushing for a swift vote on the expulsion resolution.

The resolution, which does not need to go through a lengthy committee process, requires a two-thirds vote of the entire House. The House Ethics Committee has already initiated its own investigation into Santos. It is expected that a report from the committee on Santos will be released soon. However, Santos has maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings and has refused to resign his House seat. At his first arraignment, he pleaded not guilty and questioned why he would harm the very people who supported him.

As the case against Santos continues to unfold, the political pressure to remove him from Congress is intensifying. The introduction of the expulsion resolution marks a pivotal moment in this ongoing saga, with the potential for Santos to become only the sixth member to be expelled from the House in over a century.