Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.) criticized former Rep. George Santos for observing President Biden’s State of the Union address Thursday night on the House floor, calling him a “moron” who left the rest of the New York delegation incensed.
“The guy’s a moron. He shouldn’t be here,” Graves told reporters after the State of the Union.
“I’m guessing that the New York delegation handwrote a new rule in the House where he’s not allowed to come, because those guys were irate,” Graves added, saying he does not think the former lawmaker should retain his floor privileges.
“They were very bothered by him being there and just the sensationalism or attention” Santos is seeking, Graves added.
Santos was drummed out of the House last year after a series of controversies.
In a 311-114-2 vote, lawmakers expelled Santos from the House on Dec. 1, making him the sixth lawmaker in history to be booted from the lower chamber. It was the third attempt to remove him.
Santos’s expulsion was predicated on his charged with 23 criminal counts connected to allegations that he misled donors, fraudulently received unemployment benefits, and charged his donors’ credit cards without authorization.
Santos has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is scheduled to go to trial in September.
Former members retain floor privileges, which the former lawmaker used Thursday night, appearing on the floor with a sparkle-studded collar.
Santos has often suggested he planned to remain a presence at his former workplace and has noted his absence in instances where the GOP has lost narrow votes.
While at the address Thursday, Santos said he would run for Congress again against Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.), one of his former colleagues who led the charge to expel him.
Updated at 12:14 a.m. ET