Familiar faces, familiar places: The latest from Capitol Hill

The Capitol was abuzz with activity as former and current lawmakers crisscrossed the historic building, bumping into old friends and familiar faces. Vice President-elect JD Vance, R-Ohio, was seen shuttling President-elect Trump’s cabinet nominees through a series of meetings with senators. Vance, at just 40 years old, is set to become the youngest vice president since 1857, alongside President James Buchanan.

One of the nominees Vance facilitated meetings for was former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who had been tapped as the president-elect’s first attorney general candidate. However, Gaetz abruptly resigned from Congress after his nomination, citing distractions and the need to avoid a protracted Washington scuffle. Gaetz’s resignation left many scratching their heads, as he had just won re-election and seemed poised for a prominent role in the new administration.

Following Gaetz’s withdrawal, former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., who had been expelled from the House nearly a year ago, made an appearance at the Capitol. Santos, who was looking for House Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest, R-Miss., seemed eager to share his thoughts with the press. Despite his expulsion, Santos still had access to the Capitol complex as a former member, a loophole that some lawmakers had vowed to close but never did.

Santos expressed his support for President-elect Trump’s cabinet picks and criticized Guest for his handling of Santos’ own ethics report, which ultimately led to his expulsion. The former lawmaker also commented on the House Ethics Committee’s report on Gaetz, questioning whether it should be made public now that Gaetz was no longer a member of Congress.

As the day unfolded, the Capitol saw a mix of current and former lawmakers coming and going, each with their own agenda and perspective. The familiar faces and old friends that filled the halls served as a reminder of the ever-changing landscape of politics and power in Washington, D.C. Whether they were there to advocate for a cause, seek redemption, or simply catch up with colleagues, those who toil in Congress found themselves in the midst of a whirlwind of activity and intrigue in the old familiar places of the U.S. Capitol.