Voters in New York’s 3rd Congressional District have a lot weighing on their consciences as they decide whether Republican U.S. Rep. George Santos is worth their vote in 2024.

Santos has been indicted on 13 federal counts ranging from embezzling money from his campaign to lying to Congress to falsely receiving unemployment funds. He has pleaded not guilty, of course, and House leadership has chosen not to censure or suspend him — primarily because it seems they believe they need him to pad the very thin margins they have.

It is mind-boggling that a man who has been indicted on charges of unemployment fraud then would be given the opportunity to vote on giving states more incentive to pursue cases of unemployment insurance fraud, for example. (Santos seems to have understood he’d better vote for that one.)

And while a defendant is innocent until proven guilty in this country, it is worth noting that in the midst of his legal woes in the U.S., Santos also signed a deal to avoid prosecution for forging two stolen checks in Brazil in 2008. Court documents show Santos signed a confession in that case, but it was suspended in 2013 after Santos repeatedly ignored requests to appear personally in court or present a written defense. Prosecutors in Brazil were able to petition to reopen the case when Santos became so visible as a member of Congress.

Terms of that nonprosecution agreement include a requirement that Santos pay back the equivalent of approximately $5,000 to the wronged shopkeeper and to charity. Such a deal became necessary after it was clear Santos would not be able to go to Brazil … because his passport was taken away once he faced charges in the U.S.

“The people of New York’s 3rd district deserve a voice in Congress,” Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, tweeted. “George Santos should be immediately expelled from Congress and a special election initiated at the soonest possible date.”

Expulsion may have to wait until there is a conviction. Ohioans will remember it took three months for then-U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr., D-Poland, to be expelled after having been found guilty of 10 federal charges that included racketeering, bribery and fraud. Traficant, who for years represented the Mahoning Valley, served years in federal prison and later died after his release.

House leadership might want to look more closely at whether there are some votes from which Santos must be excluded.

Congressional leaders who are worried about whether the next representative is a Republican would do well to throw their support behind a conservative who can be for his or her constituents all that Santos seems he is not. Ultimately, however, it is up to New York voters to send to D.C. an honest representative who is in it for them.

editorial@vindy.com