Raising A Question of the Privileges of the House

Floor Speech

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Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, many times in the course of my life as a military police officer and civilian police officer, I have had occasion to say: Calm down, son. I have heard your argument. I feel your passion. I understand your position, but you are about to go too far. Just calm down and step back.

This is what I advise my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do. One of my brothers here, whom I love and respect, he is the man seated here, is making a mistake.

Mr. Speaker, one of the gentleman said we should be held to a higher standard. We are talking about the removal of a Member of Congress. Do we want the American people to believe that the opinions of Congressmen is a higher standard than the deliberate vote of the American people? Is a report from a committee a higher standard than the 2-year election cycle as established by our Founding Fathers and enshrined in our Constitution?

Let's calm down.

Mr. Speaker, I have spoken for 7 years to this body here, and very rarely have I had a prepared statement, nor do I today, but I am going to read a letter that I distributed to my Republican colleagues for the benefit of my Democratic colleagues that did not receive a copy of the letter. Perhaps, I am wrong for that. I considered sending you all this letter. I did not, and I apologize for that. The media has gotten it. It is out there. It reads as follows:

``Although I completely respect the work of our colleagues on the Ethics Committee, I have serious concerns about the way this particular case is being handled, and I'll oppose the George Santos expulsion.

``In the 7 years I've been a Member of Congress, many Members have been subject to campaign expenditure ethics investigations. To my recollection, Members have always had the opportunity to settle the matter by restitution, even if they disagreed with the Ethics Committee conclusions. Further, in many prior instances of allegations of misconduct, I recall no massive media release from the Ethics Committee. After a bit of a whispered brush fire, the matter just went away. Maybe the Member left Congress, maybe the Member didn't leave Congress, but they weren't publicly crucified and expelled. The very fact that we have all read the `investigative report' indicates a level of public character assassination that I have not witnessed through four terms of congressional service. It's troubling to me, that a Republican-led Ethics Committee would present itself as so judgmental. Previous Ethics Committee investigations have always been conducted quietly, reflective of our constitutional standards of innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Reports of similar allegations of campaign finance violations like family vacations overseas and cosmetic dental procedures and sexual adventures of every sort have not historically been released to the public. This particular Ethics Committee investigation seems to be quite public, and I am not seeing any allowance for the Member to make restitution of alleged campaign finance violations. Full media disclosure, combined with intention to move straight to expulsion, appears weaponized to me.

``Colleagues, you can believe what you like, but the 56-page `Investigative Subcommittee Report' is most certainly not written within the parameters normally found in an unbiased, impartial investigative report. It's filled with conjecture, opinion, and pejorative language that no professional investigative report should include, no experienced cop would present to a D.A., and no impartial D.A. would ever present to a court as unbiased. You may accept this report as grounds for expulsion from Congress, but I say no. It's not right, the totality of circumstance appears biased, it stinks of politics, and I'll oppose this action in every way. Perhaps my colleagues should step back from expulsion, look in the mirror, reflect upon the long established historical record of congressional behavior, consider the Founders' intent, and let we the people of New York determine their Representative. This report is posing as an objective presentation of fact, yet it is most certainly written with notable disregard for professional objectivity, and it is wrapped in a media incensed public disclosure that any reasonable man can see is the congressional equivalent of a public crucifixion. I'm stunned that Members would cheer for this public shaming and expulsion. It's like witnessing an otherwise fair and compassionate village gather to celebrate the burning of an alleged witch.

``Since the Civil War, only two Members of Congress have been expelled, and both had been convicted in court of Federal crimes. That's the standard, and the House of Representatives should not deviate from that standard. I'm a solid no on expulsion, and I encourage every Member to carefully consider what kind of precedent we are setting.''

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate this opportunity to encourage my colleagues sincerely on both sides of the aisle to step back from this expulsion.

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Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, what I ask of my colleagues, again, very respectfully on both sides of the aisle, is to just step back from this moment and reflect upon the sacred right of the American people to determine their representation in our representative Republic. This is not a right that has been enumerated for this Congress.

The American people run this thing. I believe the people of the Third District of New York are quite capable of removing Representative Santos if they choose to do so.

In the history of our Nation, we have never done what we are poised to do. Since the Civil War, two Members of Congress have been removed by expulsion, both having been convicted of Federal crimes. The people of these United States own the sacred right to remove their Representative.

This is reflective of our oath. I say this sincerely to my beloved colleagues, to step back from this egregious act that you have threatened.

Reflect upon the American people that we serve, the oath that we have sworn, and allow the people of New York to cast their vote as they see fit.

Mr. Speaker, I am prayerful that righteousness will, indeed, touch the heart of every Member of Congress in this consideration, just as I am prayerful that righteousness touches the heart as voting Americans across the country determine who their Representative will be.

I have faith that this anointed Nation, touched by the hand of God as our Constitution was debated and developed and the writ thereof was determined, I have faith in that document, and I am prayerful that my colleagues Republican and my colleagues Democrat will grant that sacred right as determined by our Constitution to the people to whom it belongs--in this case, the people of the Third District of New York.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members to oppose the expulsion of Representative George Santos.

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