(NewsNation) — Former Rep. George Santos called for equal treatment from Democrats regarding the indictment of Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, demanding the congressman face expulsion just as Santos did over his own federal charges.

“If they’re going to hold the same standard for one of their own colleagues … or is that only for Republicans who flipped seats, because this is going to be very telling for Democrats,” Santos said Monday in an interview on NewsNation’s “Dan Abrams Live.” “It’s going to be a great tool to call out the bias and hypocrisy on the establishment in D.C., specifically with the Democrats.”

Cuellar is facing federal charges over allegations of a bribery and money laundering scheme involving more than $600,000 from foreign sources. Santos, the Republican former congressman from New York’s 3rd District, was expelled from the House in December over his own federal indictment and an ethics report detailing lies about his background.

Santos insisted the ethics report that helped prompt his expulsion was a politically motivated “witch hunt” filled with “innuendos” and “hyperbole.” He said Republicans had long sought to flip Cuellar’s seat to the GOP, suggesting potential motives behind any lack of action against the Democrat.

The former congressman vowed to take his expulsion fight to the Supreme Court if Cuellar avoids the same fate, saying it would demonstrate a double standard despite what he claimed were flimsy ethics allegations against himself.

Cuellar, 68, and his wife, Imelda, 67, were taken into custody Friday in connection with a U.S. Department of Justice probe into the couple’s ties to the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan.

The congressman professed his innocence after the indictment was revealed and vowed to continue his bid for an 11th term in November, saying, “Everything I have done in Congress has been to serve the people of South Texas.”

The Cuellars are accused of accepting nearly $600,000 in bribes from an Azerbaijan-controlled energy company and a bank in Mexico. In exchange, Cuellar allegedly agreed to advance those entities’ interests in the U.S.

The couple surrendered to authorities, made an initial appearance before a federal judge in Houston and were each released on $100,000 bond, the DOJ said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.