Mike Johnson Has Reservations About Expelling Santos

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on Wednesday expressed “real reservations” about a motion to expel embattled Rep. George Santos (R-NY) and said that lawmakers would be free to “vote their conscience” during a floor vote expected Thursday, the Washington Post reports.

Said Johnson: “We’ve not whipped the vote, and we wouldn’t. I trust that people will make that decision thoughtfully and in good faith. I personally have real reservations about doing this. I’m concerned about a precedent that may be set for that.”

Playbook: “Never before has a House member been booted without a criminal conviction or Confederate membership during the Civil War, and many House Republicans say it’s bad precedent to kick Santos out until he has his day in court.”