‘His time is up’: George Santos trolled after he trips on hotel staircase and breaks his watch
WASHINGTON, DC: George Santos, the recently expelled former Congressman from New York, faced yet another embarrassment on Saturday night, December 2, a day after being voted out of the House of Representatives.
Staircase mishap after expulsion from Congress
Witnesses spotted Santos tripping on a rain-soaked staircase at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Washington, DC, just before 10 pm, breaking his watch in the process. Onlookers couldn't help but snicker at the former Representative, TMZ reported.
The unfortunate incident marked the culmination of a tumultuous week for Santos, who was ousted from the House on Friday, December 1, following revelations of an extensive record of lying and multiple criminal charges, including laundering campaign funds and defrauding donors.
"Why would I want to stay here? To hell with this place," Santos retorted to reporters outside the US Capitol after the vote. The final tally stood at 311-114, with over 100 Republicans joining Democrats in expelling the disgraced former Congressman.
Santos, displaying his displeasure, stormed off the House floor just minutes before the vote concluded, warning reporters that the House had "set a new dangerous precedent for themselves".
Social media mockery
The public humiliation continued on social media, where Santos was brutally mocked after the staircase incident.
"His time is up. in more ways than one," one wrote on Facebook.
"That is Karma at work," another added.
"Doing his Biden impersonation?" someone else quipped.
"Fall from Grace LMAO," a comment read.
"That's his meal ticket... now he can sue," another commented.
Ethics committee report
The US House Committee on Ethics had previously detailed Santos' lies, including fabricating family links to the Holocaust, the 9/11 death of his mother, and recovering from a brain tumor. Despite surviving a previous expulsion vote, the mounting evidence led to his eventual removal from the House.
The tension leading up to the vote reached a boiling point, with Santos exchanging accusations with Rep Max Miller, who labeled Santos a "crook". Santos fired back, calling Miller a "woman beater", referencing unproven claims of domestic violence.
With Santos's expulsion, New York Governor Kathy Hochul is set to declare the seat vacant and call for a special election to fill the position.
"I am prepared to undertake the solemn responsibility of filling the vacancy in New York's 3rd District," Hochul stated on the X platform (formerly known as Twitter).
I am prepared to undertake the solemn responsibility of filling the vacancy in New York’s 3rd District.
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) December 1, 2023
The people of Long Island deserve nothing less.
Hochul is obligated to call a special election within 10 days of the expulsion vote, and both parties anticipate the election to be held in February.
Legal battles and fabrications
Santos, who has pleaded not guilty to 23 federal charges, including identity theft and campaign finance violations, is not expected to face trial until September of the following year. The House Ethics Committee's scathing report accused Santos of exploiting his candidacy for personal financial gain, diverting campaign funds for various personal expenses.
The report detailed instances of Santos using campaign funds for Botox treatments, designer bags, OnlyFans purchases, and even cash withdrawals at a casino. Additionally, he allegedly inflated personal loans to his campaign, misrepresenting their value.
Santos's fabrications extended beyond financial misconduct, with false claims about his family's heritage and his mother's death.
Reports indicated no successful efforts to trace any Jewish or Ukrainian heritage in his family tree, and Santos' mother was described as a housekeeper despite his campaign website's assertion that she was the "first female executive at a major financial institution".