A bipartisan effort to remove two House members from Congress is gaining momentum, with lawmakers from both parties signaling they will back expulsion measures in separate votes.
The dual campaign targets Rep. Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat, and Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican. The fact that lawmakers across the political divide are coalescing behind removal of members from opposite parties underscores the gravity of the allegations prompting the action.
Expulsions from the House require a two-thirds supermajority vote, making them extraordinarily rare. The bipartisan nature of the current push suggests each member faces substantial headwinds for remaining in their seat, though success would still require significant support beyond what has been publicly pledged so far.
Both Republicans and Democrats have indicated their willingness to vote for the expulsion measures, though specific numbers of committed votes were not disclosed. The statements from House members suggest the effort extends beyond any single party trying to remove a political opponent, lending credibility to the expulsion push.
The development represents an unusual moment of congressional agreement on a drastic measure. Expulsion votes are typically partisan affairs or involve members with relatively isolated support. A scenario in which both parties mobilize to remove members on the opposite side is considerably more uncommon.
The timing of the announcements, coming on a Sunday, suggests coordinated messaging around the expulsion efforts. Exactly when formal votes would occur was not specified, though lawmakers signaled their positions ahead of any procedural steps.
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