Former Rep. George Santos (R-NY) — who was booted from his seat in early December following a scathing ethics report — blasted his former Republican colleagues in a group chat on Tuesday night after Democrat Tom Souzzi won the special election to replace him.
According to reports from The Daily Beast and Semafor, Santos put some of his former colleagues in a group chat and texted them his disgust after Souzzi defeated Republican candidate Mazi Pilip. The Democrats’ win in the special election slimmed the GOP’s majority in the U.S. House from seven seats to six seats, with four vacancies in the 435-member chamber.
“I hope you guys are happy with this dismal performance and your 10 million for futile Bull S*** cost the party,” he reportedly said in a message sent to most of the New York Republicans who voted to expel him. “I look very forward to most of you losing due to your absolute hate filled campaign to remove me from Congress arbitrarily. Now go tell the Republicans Base what you f***ing idiots did and good luck raising money next quarter.”
A screenshot of the text chain that Santos shared with Semafor showed that Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) responded to Santos’ message, writing, “Sorry new phone, who dis?”
🟡NEW via @kadiagoba: Ex-Rep. George Santos texted his former New York Republican colleagues to trash them for pushing to remove him from Congress after Rs lost NY03 seat.
Rep. Andrew Garbarino responded: “Sorry new phone , who dis?” https://t.co/6xr2SY2NHZ pic.twitter.com/XqICWLnc37
— Joseph Zeballos-Roig (@josephzeballos) February 14, 2024
Santos posted multiple times on social media about the Republicans’ election loss Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, arguing that he “FLIPPED a 23 year Blue seat with the help of grassroots activists and by activating the base with retail politics.” He also said that Republicans disrespected former President Donald Trump’s loyal supporters during the race.
“#NY3 is #MAGA country and since MAGA was disrespected, MAGA stayed home!” Santos added.
Santos’ post echoed Trump’s take on the election. The former president posted on Truth Social Tuesday night that “Republicans just don’t learn” and called Pilip a “foolish woman” for not endorsing him.
“I have an almost 99% Endorsement Success Rate in Primaries, and a very good number in the General Elections, as well, but just watched this very foolish woman, Mazi Melesa Pilip, running in a race where she didn’t endorse me and tried to ‘straddle the fence,’ when she would have easily WON if she understood anything about MODERN DAY politics in America,” Trump said. “MAGA, WHICH IS MOST OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, STAYED HOME – AND IT ALWAYS WILL, UNLESS IT IS TREATED WITH THE RESPECT THAT IT DESERVES. I STAYED OUT OF THE RACE, “I WANT TO BE LOVED!” GIVE US A REAL CANDIDATE IN THE DISTRICT FOR NOVEMBER. SUOZZI, I KNOW HIM WELL, CAN BE EASILY BEATEN!”
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The House voted on December 1, 2023, to expel Santos, with 311 representatives voting in the affirmative and 114 voting against, with two representatives voting present. Democrats, who remained mostly united in their vote for Santos’ expulsion, were joined by 105 Republicans.
Santos faces 23 federal charges related to allegations of fraud, misusing campaign funds, and lying about his personal finances on House disclosure reports. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. The House Ethics Committee released a report in November that was heavily critical of the then-congressman’s conduct, saying that a “review of the allegations and charges” showed “overwhelming evidence of his misconduct.”
Santos became the sixth U.S. House member to be expelled but made history as the first member expelled before being convicted of a crime or having fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War.