George Santos Booted from State of the Union Spot ‘So That Current Members Would Have a Seat’

Former Rep. George Santos (R-NY) caused a stir when he showed up for the State of the Union address Thursday, but even though he may still have floor privileges he doesn’t have the right to a prime seat.

Santos – who told so many fibs, fantasies, and flat-out lies that my attempt in January 2023 to chronicle them barely lasted a day before it was outdated — was expelled from Congress in December after an Ethics Committee report concluded, “Representative Santos sought to fraudulently exploit every aspect of his House candidacy for his own personal financial profit.” Those efforts to “fraudulently exploit” his status as a congressman allegedly included defrauding another fellow Republican member – and even that member’s mother.

A special election in February for Santos’ replacement was won by Democrat Tom Suozzi.

As the CNN panel was waiting for President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden to exit the White House and for their motorcade to make its way to the Capitol, they commented on Santos’ bizarre presence in the building.

“Jamie Gangel has some news on one of the surprise attendees of tonight’s State of the Union address,” said Jake Tapper about Santos, “who was expelled from Congress in a very rare act” but “still apparently has floor privileges and is there.”

“Jamie, what more can you tell us?” asked Tapper.

“Once a member, always a member,” said Gangel. “So on, I guess a lighter note George Santos is back. You’re right. It turns out, even if you’re expelled, there’s the –”

Tapper then apologized for interrupting as the Biden walked out to the car, before turning the topic back to Santos. “Tell us again about George Santos and the background scene, because I cannot imagine he was welcomed, back to the Capitol.”

“Well, it turns out that even if you’re expelled, even if you’re indicted, you still have floor privileges,” Gangel continued. “And George Santos is back. I’m told that he was sitting in some seats, and that GOP floor staff politely asked him to move from the seats to the back so that current members would have a seat, and that he – much to one person’s surprise – that he politely complied with that.”

“And he’s now standing in the back. But it’s– there is just no end with George Santos,” she concluded as the panel laughed.

“Thirsty George Santos,” joked CNN political director David Chalian.

Watch the clip above via CNN.

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