Two members of the House of Representatives announced their resignations on Monday as they faced the threat of expulsion for allegations of sexual misconduct. But rather than putting an end to Congress’ internal drama, the resignations may be the beginning of a slew of expulsion battles on the House floor.
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., who had been a front-runner to become governor of California, announced his plan to resign on Monday afternoon, saying in a statement that “false” allegations of sexual misconduct had “distracted” from his duties.
An hour later, Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, who has admitted to an affair with an aide who later committed suicide by self-immolation, also announced his resignation.
Some in the House say they want these forced departures to serve as a template going forward.
“Accountability can happen. We can hold men accountable when they abuse women and we’re going to do more of it,” Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M., said in a video posted to X.
Leger Fernandez spearheaded the effort alongside Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., to force expulsion votes against Swalwell and Gonzales.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., who has said she would have supported expelling both members, called on social media for an expedited process in the House Ethics Committee for handling allegations against members.
“We will protect survivors of sexual assault and harassment, and we will seek to institute and to uphold a much, much more accountable and transparent and quick, rapid process for the ethics committee to review allegations that come up,” Jayapal said on Monday.
Multiple backers of expulsion for Swalwell and Gonzales, such as Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., had called for two other expulsions: Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., and Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla.
Only six expulsions have occurred in the history of the House.
Although the Constitution provides the House and the Senate the authority to discipline and expel their own members, such a measure, which requires a two-thirds majority in the House, is considered extreme.
Mills has denied accusations of assault, as well as sexual and financial misconduct, and is under investigation by the Ethics Committee.
Cherfilus-McCormick has been found guilty by the committee of stealing and laundering millions of dollars in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding. She has been charged by the Department of Justice but denies wrongdoing.
Luna called Tuesday morning for the removal of Cherfilus-McCormick, in a sign that talk of expulsion may just be getting started in the House.
“Sheila McCormick, we have your expulsion vote ready to be called up on the 21st. Either resign or be expelled. Those are your two options.” Luna wrote on X.
Brandon Herrera, a Republican candidate running to succeed Gonzales, also called for an end to Cherfilus-McCormick’s tenure in Congress.
“Let’s get her out next,” he wrote on X.
Cherfilus-McCormick’s office provided The Daily Signal a statement from the congresswoman that pushed back on the charges.
“I want to be very clear: these situations are not the same. A state clerical or administrative error is not equivalent to allegations of sexual assault, rape, and the likes. Conflating the two is both inaccurate and irresponsible,” Cherfilus-McCormick said.
She added, “We must also uphold due process. No one should be judged or punished before a formal finding. Expelling members without that standard sets a dangerous precedent. For those asking whether I plan to resign, the answer is no. This is not the time to abandon the district, not when they too are fighting for their future.”
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., who opposed the expulsion of former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., has expressed openness to expelling Cherfilus-McCormick.
“Look, as you know, I have been a jealous guardian of due process around here,” he said.
“Certainly, on Cherfilus-McCormick, the Ethics Committee has gone through all of its processes, and they’ve found some alarming facts,” Johnson added. “I think the facts are indisputable at this point, and so I believe it will be the consensus of this body that she should be expelled.”
Johnson did not indicate he believed the allegations against Mills have the same level of evidential support yet.
“I’m not sure [of] the status of the Ethics Committee investigation, and that’s one of the things I’ll be looking into today.”
Mills’ office withheld comment.