| | | | |  | | By Nicholas Wu, Katherine Tully-McManus and Daniella Diaz | | | With assists from POLITICO’s Congress team
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Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle praised the House Ethics Committee's work that will likely lead to Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) being expelled from Congress. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | TRUST THE (ETHICS) PROCESS The House Ethics Committee often gets a bad rap around Capitol Hill. For one, it’s not known for the swift pace of its investigations, which often seem to disappear into a black hole. Nor is it a coveted committee assignment — investigating one’s colleagues has never made anyone popular. But when it comes to embattled Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are praising their effective and (relatively) speedy work that will likely lead to him being expelled from Congress Friday. “I think the Ethics Committee did a very thorough job,” Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), who led an effort to expel Santos, said in an interview. “They clearly took months and months to do this report. I think they have a staff that was dedicated to this.” Many lawmakers doubted the panel would move fast enough to effectively handle Santos’ transgressions; it frequently defers to law enforcement investigations, which can delay probes, in some cases, for years. But the committee’s exhaustive and unanimous report gave other lawmakers who’d been on the fence cover to finally boot Santos. “He is an embodiment of fraud and violated the law. The ethics report affirms it, and the only answer is either he resigns or we expel,” said Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.), a top Santos critic. “It was a thorough investigation,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.). “That is what has generated the vote. It’s the ethics process working.” The committee (finally) speaks: Rep. David Joyce (R-Ohio), a panel member, commended staff investigators' unusual level of communication with the Justice Department on the Santos case, which allowed for a speedier-than-usual resolution, he said. “We took the areas which fell squarely within the Ethics purview, and let the DOJ run with that stuff that they were pursuing criminally,” said Joyce. “You came up with things and just kept coming up with more things.” It also helped speed things up that Santos chose not to participate in the panel’s investigation, Rep. John Rutherford (R-Fla.) noted. “The other option was to go through the hearing process, which he wasn't cooperating [with] to begin with, so that wasn’t really an option,” he said. “So we brought it to the floor.” Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.), the committee’s top Democrat, said the panel “works very, very methodically” and ended up putting together a “comprehensive and exhaustive” report. “I’ve given up predicting votes in this Congress, but I don't know how anybody could read that report and not be a yes,” she said. Lashing out: Santos, for his part, has railed on the Ethics panel in the weeks since the release of its report. In comments Thursday, he noted he could be the first House member to be expelled who wasn’t either convicted of a crime or a member of the Confederate cause. Rutherford pointed out that many other indicted members resigned first under threat of Ethics sanction. “This is the track that Mr. Santos has decided, not the Ethics Committee,” he said. “I think we have a duty and a responsibility to the American public to clean our own house, too.” — Nicholas Wu, Katherine Tully-McManus and Daniella Diaz
| | | | A message from American Chemistry Council – Chemistry Creates America Competes: Powering the nation's supply chain, the U.S. business of chemistry drives innovation in semiconductors, energy, healthcare, and more. But urgent action is needed! Already the most heavily regulated sector, America’s chemical industry faces growing regulatory overload. The Biden Administration and Congress must correct course and do a better job understanding the negative impact of additional, unduly restrictive regulations on a fragile supply chain and economy before it’s too late. Learn more – Chemistry Creates, America Competes | | | GOOD EVENING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Thursday, Nov. 30, where the battle for best holiday decor on the second floor of Longworth is heating up, and it's not even December yet. SENATE ENTERS CRUNCH TIME Senators bolted out of town today, keeping to their usual crisp Thursday afternoon departure. But when they return, they’ll have just two legislative weeks left this year to tackle a daunting year-end list, and not everyone’s optimistic. “It could get done if we would work like normal people, like eight to six, Monday through Friday,” said Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.). “We'd be able to get all this knocked out.” The Senate has passed only three out of 12 appropriations bills; the massive national security supplemental is still in limbo; there’s no border deal; Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) still has holds in place on military nominations; the National Defense Authorization Act is still being negotiated; the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization hasn’t happened — and that’s just to name a few. "I had been hoping we'd have a resolution by the end of the week,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said of border negotiations, which the supplemental hinges on. “We don't.” Jet fumes spring eternal: Senators are holding out hope that they’re on track to get at least some of their outstanding tasks done before the holidays. Tuberville’s signaling an off-ramp for his blockade soon. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is aiming for a vote on the supplemental as soon as next week, though nothing is scheduled yet. And expect appropriations to get kicked into the new year amid rising talk of a full-year continuing resolution. One thing you can probably count on: Getting at least some of those tasks done without weekend work. “Somehow, someway it always seems to work out,” said freshman Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.). “Don't ask me how.” — Ursula Perano and Burgess Everett
| | | | GROWING IN THE GOLDEN STATE: POLITICO California is growing, reinforcing our role as the indispensable insider source for reporting on politics, policy and power. From the corridors of power in Sacramento and Los Angeles to the players and innovation hubs in Silicon Valley, we're your go-to for navigating the political landscape across the state. Exclusive scoops, essential daily newsletters, unmatched policy reporting and insights — POLITICO California is your key to unlocking Golden State politics. LEARN MORE. | | | | | SANTOS SPEAKS HIS MIND Santos won’t talk specifically about the explosive allegations inside the bipartisan Ethics Committee report that’s likely to lead to his expulsion Friday. He’s plenty willing, however, to discuss his future if and when he ultimately departs the House. His first order of business if expelled? “Sleeping in,” he said with a laugh, noting that he’d need to pack up his D.C. apartment and prepare to move back to New York. Santos said he’d like to remain in public policy — not lobbying, he said, but “advocacy, probably in health care, in foreign affairs … even financial services reform.” “I've realized that I am highly employable because of the amount of job opportunities that have flooded in my direction,” he said, without providing specifics, during a 45-minute Q&A session with reporters Thursday afternoon. He added that he’s not interested in the jobs, which range from “media to entertainment to public advocacy and policy.” As for whether he is worried about going to prison? “Wouldn't you be?” he responded to an inquiring reporter. “Of course. That's why I've made it very clear that I am standing my ground. … These are serious allegations and I have a lot of work ahead of me.” Your Huddle correspondent asked whether he’s been approached by any reality TV shows to be a participant, to which he replied with a sigh: “Olivia, I'm not gonna answer that.” (That’s not a no, she replied.) He also said he “will definitely be writing a book” and that he has so far “refused every single offer for a documentary, and there have been plenty.” Asked about his regrets, he largely pointed to who he chose to surround himself with, declining to be specific, before vowing to go out with a bang. “I will have fun on my way out. Don't worry about it,” Santos said, adding that the time will come to name names. “I have plenty of receipts.” — Olivia Beavers
| | | | A message from American Chemistry Council – Chemistry Creates America Competes:   | | | SOMETHING TO CHEW ON Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) saved the day on Thursday, and it wasn’t because he allowed a quick vote on a spending bill. Rather, the ophthalmologist broke out his Heimlich skills to assist a choking Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) at Senate Republicans’ lunch, a maneuver one attendee called “extraordinary.” The sunny Ernst recovered quickly, joking that she will vote for whatever Rand tells her to, said a person briefed on the meeting. She also posted a thanks to Paul on X. Food for thought: OGs will remember that Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) stepped in to help a choking former Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) in 2018. And we’re told there was another incident this year, in which Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) got some Heimlich assistance in the GOP lunch from a colleague. Jokes aside, we are very happy that all the senators emerged unscathed. And we are considering eating within the vicinity of Rand Paul or Joe Manchin from now on. — Burgess Everett
| | | | GET A BACKSTAGE PASS TO COP28 WITH GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Get insider access to the conference that sets the tone of the global climate agenda with POLITICO's Global Playbook newsletter. Authored by Suzanne Lynch, Global Playbook delivers exclusive, daily insights and comprehensive coverage that will keep you informed about the most crucial climate summit of the year. Dive deep into the critical discussions and developments at COP28 from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12. SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | | | | | | Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) tries her skills at the Elf on the Shelf. You won’t find this piping hot tea tea anywhere else. Heaven help us if the many, many lecterns at the Capitol ever got this treatment. Even House Christmas displays cannot escape politics, apparently.
| | | | A message from American Chemistry Council – Chemistry Creates America Competes: Our nation’s supply chain runs on the U.S. business of chemistry. When chemistry creates, America competes.
Semiconductors, automotive, healthcare, infrastructure, and energy all rely on chemistry. From EV’s to smartphones, America’s chemical manufacturers power innovations we can't live without.
Unfortunately, regulatory overload and lack of coordination between the White House and its agencies is handicapping American chemistry’s ability to create products that support national priorities, jeopardizing the economy and America’s ability to compete with countries like China. This tidal wave of unduly restrictive regulations could disrupt the supply chain for crucial technologies and everyday products.
President Biden and his administration need to understand how vital chemistry is to the supply chain when it comes to making the things America and the world can’t live without. The Biden Administration and Congress must support policies that empower chemistry, promote American innovation, and strengthen U.S. competitiveness. Learn more – Chemistry Creates, America Competes. | | | QUICK LINKS Santos refuses to resign, despite GOP pressure and looming expulsion vote, from Jordain Carney ‘Shrugged off and ignored’: Lawmakers disagree on how to ease pain of election churn, from Justin Papp at Roll Call Santos Relishes the Limelight Even as His Show Looks Likely to Close, from Annie Karni at The New York Times TRANSITIONS Jeff Morehouse is joining Rep. Richard Hudson’s (R-N.C.) office as leadership chief of staff. He previously was managing director of government affairs at ClearPath and is a Bill Flores and John Culberson alum. Ellen Sciales is now deputy comms director for Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). She comes from the Sunrise Movement, and is a Warren, Bollier and Ossoff campaign alum. TOMORROW IN CONGRESS The House is in session. The Senate is out. FRIDAY AROUND THE HILL 9:15 a.m. Reps. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) and Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) hold a press conference to call for the expulsion of Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) from Congress. (House Triangle) 10 a.m. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) and Congressional Black Caucus members hold a press conference to call for the reauthorization of PEPFAR on World AIDS Day. (House Triangle)
| | THURSDAY’S ANSWER: Brad Fitch correctly answered Claude Pepper was the long-time Florida lawmaker and former Rules Committee chair who was ousted from his Senate seat in a 1950 primary, returned to Congress as an anti-Castro, pro-labor, House Democrat representing South Florida, and died in office as the oldest member of the House in 1989. He was succeeded by Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. TODAY’S QUESTION from Brad: The Select Committee on Modernization of Congress recommended bringing back an office to recruit and manage interns in the House of Representatives. The previous program, which operated through 1994, was named after which former member who went on to higher office? The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your answers to huddletrivia@politico.com. GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each evening. Follow Daniella on X at @DaniellaMicaela. | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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