WASHINGTON D.C. — Former Rep. George Santos of New York is blaming his expulsion from the House last Friday on an accusation by Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio.

What You Need To Know

  • Former Rep. George Santos blamed Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, of causing his ouster
  • Miller sent out an email accusing Santos of defrauding him and his mother
  • Santos is out of Congress but still faces 23 criminal charges
 

Miller sent out an email shortly before Friday’s vote, accusing Santos of defrauding him and his mother. Santos said he didn’t have enough time to refute the accusation before the vote, but has lashed out at Miller.

“Hypocrisy,” he said at a House session to debate his expulsion. “My colleague wants to come up here and call me a crook, the same colleague who is accused of being a woman beater.”

In 2021, Miller’s former girlfriend, former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, alleged he physically abused her during their relationship.

Miller has denied the accusation.

Miller said he and his mother both donated to Santos’ campaign in early 2022. Campaign finance filings show by the end of the year, both were charged several more times.

A letter from the Federal Election Commission said each had contributed $5,800 above campaign contribution limits.

“Mr. Santos took not only my credit card personally, he took my mother’s credit card personally, and he swiped them both for an additional $5,000, marking it as an over donation,” Miller said. “I had to hire an attorney to fight it by the FEC that I think cost me $15,000 or $20,000. Altogether, this man has cost my family $30,000.”

House Republicans had previously failed to expel Santos in two separate votes. Rep. David Joyce, R-Ohio, who led the investigation into Santos, said Miller’s email was the tipping point.

“I think Max’s last-minute email to all the members determined the outcome for him because a lot of us may not have believed the investigative report, sorry about that, but they believe Max,” Joyce said.

The House Committee on Ethics’ report found Santos, “blatantly stole from his campaign,” including for travel, Botox and the adult site, OnlyFans.

The report matches the Department of Justice’s allegations of credit card fraud. In October it announced 23 felony criminal charges against Santos.

Santos is now free from the demands of Congress and questions from the media, but he’s still facing the possibility of losing his freedom for 22 years in federal prison.

If Santos does not reach a plea deal, a trial date has been set for Sept. 2024 in Long Island.

Miller’s testimony might be used during that trial.

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