Florida Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna declared she will formally move to expel California Democrat Eric Swalwell from the House of Representatives and expressed confidence that the chamber has sufficient support to also remove Texas Republican Tony Gonzales, as both lawmakers face intense scrutiny over separate allegations of sexual misconduct.
Luna stated she believes "the votes are there for both" expulsion resolutions, which would require a two-thirds majority to pass. The move comes amid mounting bipartisan pressure for both members to resign ahead of the midterm elections.
Swalwell Faces Multiple Investigations
Swalwell is confronting allegations detailed in a San Francisco Chronicle report that he sexually assaulted a former aide on two occasions, in 2019 and 2024, while the woman was allegedly too intoxicated to consent. He has denied the allegations. The House Ethics Committee announced Monday it has opened an investigation into whether Swalwell violated official conduct rules. Separately, the Manhattan District Attorney's office has opened a criminal probe into the assault claims.
The political fallout has been swift. Swalwell suspended his campaign for California governor on Sunday following pressure from Democratic leaders, an event that significantly reshapes that open race. His support within his own party has eroded, with prominent Democrats including Reps. Ro Khanna and Jared Huffman calling for his resignation. Huffman publicly broke ranks to demand Swalwell step down.
"It's against House rules to have an inappropriate relationship with your staff, and it's also against House rules to sexually harass your staff," Luna said. "Based on the evidence that's been put forward... he already violated House rules. If he had any sliver of dignity, he would resign."
Gonzales Admits to Affair with Staffer
The push for expulsion extends to Gonzales, who admitted to having an affair with a congressional staffer. The staffer died by suicide last year. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, a New Mexico Democrat, is leading a separate effort to remove Gonzales from office. Gonzales ended his reelection bid in March following the revelation and an Ethics Committee referral.
The dual expulsion efforts signal a potential broader ethics purge in the House, testing Speaker Mike Johnson's stated preference to let the Ethics Committee complete its investigations before the chamber takes punitive action. Luna challenged that approach, asking, "Do you think members are really going to try to protect people that openly admitted to breaking congressional ethics and sexual harassment before the midterms?"
Support for removing both members crosses party lines. Republicans Byron Donalds, Nancy Mace, and Mike Lawler have joined Democrats in calling for resignations. The allegations against Swalwell have triggered a wider examination of his conduct, including a DHS investigation into his nanny hiring practices.
As the Ethics Committee proceeds with its inquiry into Swalwell, focusing on whether he "violated the Code of Official Conduct... with respect to allegations that he may have engaged in sexual misconduct," the political pressure continues to intensify. The situation represents one of the most serious simultaneous ethics crises facing members of both parties in recent memory, with potential expulsion votes looming that could redefine congressional accountability standards.
