George Santos Returns to Congress for the State of the Union: ‘I Have Floor Privileges’

Chad Pergram/Twitter

Former Rep. George Santos (R-NY) returned to Congress for Thursday’s State of the Union address for the time since being expelled.

The House of Representatives expelled Santos 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.”

The report alleged Santos spent campaign money on non-campaign expenses, including Botox and OnlyFans. Santos is also under federal indictment for fraud. Soon after being elected in 2022, it was revealed he fabricated much of his life story, including where he worked, went to school, and about being Jewish.

Ahead of President Joe Biden’s address, Fox News Senior Congressional Correspondent Chad Pergram caught up with Santos at the Capitol and peppered the ex-lawmaker with questions:

PERGRAM: Is this your first time back in the building?

SANTOS: Yes, it’s my first time back in the building.

PERGRAM: And you came, why?

SANTOS: It’s the State of the Union. Why not?

PERGRAM: Ok, have you received any of your colleagues or talked to them?

SANTOS: I was just up visiting with some of my colleagues in a very bipartisan fashion.

PERGRAM: And what’s it like to be back, though?

SANTOS: It’s different. It’s different. Definitely the people’s House. It’s always a humbling experience. And it’s always great to be back.

PERGRAM: Do you think this will be the last time you come or–

SANTOS: I don’t know, I don’t know about that. I couldn’t, I couldn’t– if I knew that, I’d be guessing the lottery first.

UNKNOWN: Are you trying to– do you wanna come back someday in another congressional district?

SANTOS: I don’t, I don’t put anything past my desire to run for office at this point. But right now, it’s just– I’m a spectator and I’m just here watching.

PERGRAM: Where are you sitting?

SANTOS: I don’t know yet.

UNKNOWN: Are you, like, a guest of somebody?

SANTOS: No, I’m a former member and I have floor privileges.

As the impromptu interview concluded, Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) appeared in the shot and said, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to photobomb you.”

The last State of the Union that Santos attended did not go well for him, as Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) called him “an ass.”