Minnesota and North Dakota Republican members of congress divided on Santos expulsion vote

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – Republican George Santos of New York is now the sixth member of the U.S. House to be expelled by his colleagues.

Two-hundred-ninety votes were needed for his expulsion and the vote total in the U.S. House Friday was 311-to-114.

105 Republicans joined 206 Democrats in voting for Santos’ dismissal.

North Dakota’s Republican Representative Kelly Armstrong and Minnesota Republican Eighth District Congressman Pete Stauber voted to oust Santos, while Minnesota Republican Seventh District Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach, along with other Minnesota Republican representatives, Tom Emmer and Brad Finstad, voted against expulsion.

Minnesota Democratic Representatives Ilhan Omar, Betty McCollum and Angie Craig all voted in-favor of Santos’ expulsion while MN Representative Dean Phillips did not cast a vote, but, in a statement on X, stated he is against corruption and would have voted for Santos’ expulsion as well.

According to a House Ethics Committee report, Santos broke federal law when he allegedly spent campaign funds on cosmetic treatments, clothing and an adult website, among other potential violations of campaign finance law.