Congress returns from recess next week to what could become a watershed moment for internal accountability. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) plans to force a vote to expel Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), who faces allegations of sexual assault and harassment that he denies. Democrats are already plotting a counter-strike, readying their own expulsion measure against Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas).
If either vote succeeds, two more members could follow: Reps. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.). The dynamics are unusual because the potential removals split evenly between parties, meaning House leadership cannot hide behind majority protections as a reason to block the proceedings.
Privately, many lawmakers across both aisles are hungry for action. House members told reporters they are exhausted by the parade of scandals without consequences. "People feel confident that the allegations against all four are credible," one Democratic lawmaker said. Another was blunt: "We want a full house cleaning. Get the garbage out of here."
The appetite for swift action appears genuine. "I think there's an appetite to do it and just rip the Band-Aid off once," one Democrat suggested. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) said she would support expulsions. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) announced plans to vote for removing both Swalwell and Gonzales.
The cases in detail
Swalwell is accused by four women of rape, sexual assault, and harassment. His denial has come as his California gubernatorial campaign collapses. Gonzales admitted to an affair with a staffer, who later died by suicide; he is under House Ethics Committee investigation. Cherfilus-McCormick was found guilty by the Ethics Committee of funneling roughly $5 million in pandemic relief funds to her congressional campaign, charges she disputes. Mills faces investigation for financial misconduct, campaign finance violations, and sexual misconduct allegations he denies.
The severity of the allegations has created unusual consensus. One lawmaker noted the speed of condemnation among colleagues, saying "I have never seen people be so swift in condemning."
Yet significant obstacles remain. Expulsion requires a two-thirds majority, a demanding threshold. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) both emphasize the importance of due process before removal, viewing allegations alone as insufficient grounds for expulsion.
Rank-and-file members worry about precedent. Some fear that expelling lawmakers based on unresolved allegations, no matter how damning, could weaponize the process. "I don't want Congress to turn the morality police," one Democrat said, adding that removal should follow criminal conviction. Another Republican expressed skepticism sardonically: "While we're at it, let's cut Congress in half and I get to choose who stays."
The question of whether full expulsion votes will occur remains uncertain. Multiple lawmakers predicted that censure or other disciplinary measures could become the fallback option. "I think Eric may have tipped the scale and we may go back down the process of censuring," one House member observed. "But people want some way to show they are outraged."
To some, censure does not match the moment. "We aren't credible messengers against the administration when we hide behind rhetorical condemnation and perpetual process excuses," one lawmaker argued. Members noted that sentiment against Cherfilus-McCormick was so intense before recess that some believed she should have already been removed.
The last expulsion in the House occurred in 2023 when George Santos was ousted. Despite leadership opposition, 105 Republicans voted with Democrats to remove the serial fraudster, showing that rank-and-file frustration can overcome top-down resistance. This time, with party balance at stake neutrally, the political calculation shifts. "There's a symmetry to it, two dems and two republicans, all of whom have no support among their peers," one Democrat noted.
Whether that symmetry translates to action depends on whether leadership allows votes to proceed and whether the two-thirds threshold can be met. The coming week will test whether accumulated frustration finally breaks through institutional caution.
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