Expulsion Momentum Builds Across Party Lines
Allegations of sexual misconduct against California Democrat Eric Swalwell have ignited bipartisan demands to remove not only him from Congress, but three additional members facing their own ethical and legal troubles. This sudden push threatens to consume the House floor with forced votes and intense debate in the coming weeks, potentially destabilizing legislative operations during a period packed with critical deadlines.
Swalwell abandoned his gubernatorial campaign Sunday following accusations he sexually assaulted a former aide. That development prompted immediate calls for his expulsion from the chamber. Lawmakers quickly broadened their focus to include Texas Republican Tony Gonzales, who admitted to an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide and faces allegations of sending explicit messages to a campaign aide. Florida Republican Anna Paulina Luna announced she will file a motion to expel Swalwell and is exploring whether to combine it with a motion targeting Gonzales.
Bipartisan Support for Removal Grows
A coalition of Democrats, including Representatives Teresa Leger Fernandez, Pramila Jayapal, and Jared Huffman, have stated they would support expelling both Swalwell and Gonzales. Republican Byron Donalds of Florida also said he would vote to remove both. This bipartisan pressure for resignations marks a rare moment of agreement in a deeply divided chamber.
However, the list of lawmakers under scrutiny extends further. Members are also targeting Florida Republican Cory Mills and Florida Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick. The House Ethics Committee is investigating Mills over allegations of dating violence and campaign finance violations. Meanwhile, an Ethics subcommittee found Cherfilus-McCormick committed 25 violations related to allegedly misusing federal disaster funds for her campaign; she also faces federal criminal prosecution. Both deny any wrongdoing.
New York Republican Mike Lawler called for expulsion votes this week against Swalwell, Gonzales, and Cherfilus-McCormick if they do not resign. South Carolina Republican Nancy Mace added Mills to that list, declaring on social media, "Time to clean House. These members have proven through their own actions they are unfit to serve." Mace had previously filed a motion to expel Swalwell following the assault allegations.
Procedural Dynamics and Leadership Challenges
The uproar arrives at an inconvenient time for Speaker Mike Johnson, who is attempting to rally his narrow majority to reauthorize foreign surveillance authority and address a record-long shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security, all while Democrats push to restrict presidential military action regarding Iran. Individual members can bypass leadership by introducing privileged resolutions for censure or expulsion, forcing floor action within two legislative days.
The current political math adds momentum to expulsion efforts. Removing all four members—or just Swalwell and Gonzales—would not alter the partisan balance in the closely divided House, eliminating one major deterrent for members considering such votes.
Substantial procedural hurdles remain, however. The Ethics Committee is actively investigating or taking action against Gonzales, Mills, and Cherfilus-McCormick. Both Speaker Johnson and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries have emphasized allowing the Ethics process to conclude before the full chamber acts. This precedent held last November when the House voted to refer a censure resolution against Mills to the Ethics panel, and earlier with former Rep. George Santos, who was only expelled after the committee released its damning report.
The timeline is accelerating for Cherfilus-McCormick. The Ethics Committee has scheduled a public hearing for April 21 to determine appropriate sanctions, which could be swiftly followed by an expulsion vote. Florida Republican Greg Steube, who has a resolution ready to expel his colleague, said he is waiting for the Ethics process to finish before moving forward.
There remains the possibility the House avoids expulsion votes altogether if the embattled members choose to resign. Santos, expelled last year, publicly advised them to leave on their own terms, stating, "There is NO dignity in being expelled." The situation continues to develop as criminal probes into Swalwell proceed alongside the congressional ethics process.
