Four US Lawmakers Face Immediate Expulsion Threats Over Scandals
As many as four federal lawmakers could be removed from their seats on Capitol Hill as early as Wednesday, following intense pressure from colleagues over a series of disturbing allegations. The potential ousters target both Democrats and Republicans, highlighting a rare moment of bipartisan agreement in a deeply divided House of Representatives.
Sexual Misconduct Allegations Rock Congress
California Democrat Eric Swalwell and Texas Republican Tony Gonzales are facing the most severe scrutiny following allegations of sexual misconduct with former subordinates. Swalwell abandoned his campaign for California Governor over the weekend after a woman came forward claiming she had sexual encounters with him while he was her supervisor. The accuser alleges that the married congressman raped her twice in 2019 and 2024 when she was too intoxicated to provide consent. She is among four women who have made similar allegations against Swalwell.
Gonzales withdrew from his congressional reelection bid last month amid mounting pressure over an alleged affair with a subordinate who later died by suicide. Both men were reportedly compelled to take these actions by leaders within their own political parties, signaling internal discontent with their continued presence in Congress.
Ethics Violations and Financial Scandals Add to Pressure
The potential expulsions could extend beyond Swalwell and Gonzales to include Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and Republican Cory Mills, both representing Florida districts. Cherfilus-McCormick was found guilty by a House Ethics panel last month of multiple violations of House rules and ethical standards, including the alleged theft of $5 million in taxpayer funds.
Mills is confronting a cascade of issues, including accusations of using campaign funds for private jet travel, being evicted from his Washington DC apartment, assaulting women, profiting from federal contracts, and inflating his military record. The situation worsened for Mills over the weekend when his Chief of Staff and General Counsel, Catherine Treadwell, resigned, cryptically stating in her resignation email that "the horrors persist, but I do not."
Bipartisan Calls for Resignations Intensify
Florida Republican Anna Paulina Luna has spearheaded efforts to remove Swalwell and Gonzales, declaring on social media platform X that she is working to "expel Eric Swalwell with Rep Tony Gonzalez," emphasizing that "Both NEED to go." North Carolina Republican Addison McDowell echoed these sentiments, writing that it was "past time to get rid of predators in Congress who prey on women - especially their own staff."
South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace, currently running for governor, called for comprehensive "House cleaning" on Sunday, demanding immediate resignations from Gonzales, Mills, Swalwell, and Cherfilus-McCormick. New York Republican Mike Lawler specifically urged three of the four to step down, stating on X that "based on the facts and information that have come out, it’s simple: Eric Swalwell, Tony Gonzalez, and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick should all resign from Congress effective immediately. If not, Congress should move to expel all three of them upon our return this week."
Historical Context and Precedent
Only six members of the House of Representatives have been expelled in US history, with former New York Republican George Santos being the most recent. Santos was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison for misleading donors and fraudulent campaign spending, with the 2023 expulsion vote passing 311-114. Commenting on Swalwell's withdrawal, Santos noted on X that "innocent people don’t drop out of political races. That’s what guilty people do!" He added explicit criticism of both Swalwell and Gonzales. Santos had his sentence commuted by former President Donald Trump after serving approximately three months in prison.
The potential expulsion of up to four lawmakers this week would mark an unprecedented moment in congressional history, reflecting growing intolerance for ethical breaches and misconduct within the legislative body. As pressure mounts from both sides of the aisle, the coming days will determine whether these representatives can withstand the calls for their removal or become the latest casualties in a wave of congressional accountability.
