Two House members announced their departures Monday rather than face potential expulsion, capping weeks of scandal that have left lawmakers demanding faster action on ethics investigations stalled for years.
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-California, resigned after facing allegations of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, said he would file his retirement papers Tuesday following an investigation into an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide.
Their exits may offer temporary relief, but the underlying crisis persists. Two other members remain under active scrutiny: Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Florida, was found guilty by an Ethics subcommittee of funneling $5 million in Covid relief funds to her campaign and faces federal indictment. Rep. Cory Mills, R-Florida, is under investigation for alleged domestic abuse, stolen valor and financial misconduct, which he denies.
The glacial pace of investigations has become a flashpoint on Capitol Hill. Cherfilus-McCormick's case has dragged on for years since allegations emerged in 2022, with the Ethics Committee scheduled to meet April 21 to determine sanctions. More than a dozen swing-district House Democrats sent a letter to leadership Monday demanding expedited investigations.
Some lawmakers have grown impatient enough to threaten forcing expulsion votes before the Ethics Committee process concludes. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Florida, vowed to push an expulsion vote once Cherfilus-McCormick's case wraps up. The threat of premature removal has become a weapon wielded by frustrated members against a process many view as broken.
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have resisted pressuring members to leave office without full due process, redirecting most expulsion efforts this session back to the Ethics Committee. Some rank-and-file lawmakers share that caution, arguing colleagues shouldn't face sanctions solely on allegations.
The reluctance to act reflects the complicated politics of internal discipline. Lawmakers with seniority and deep institutional connections often survive scandals that would topple outsiders. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, lost his powerful House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense post when indicted on bribery charges in 2024, only to reclaim it after President Trump pardoned him in December.
Whether Mills faces expulsion remains unclear, with no visible timeline for resolution. Democrats may refuse to vote out Cherfilus-McCormick without also removing him, creating a stalemate that could drag on even longer.
Author James Rodriguez: "The ethics system has become a cruel joke where speed depends entirely on a member's willingness to leave voluntarily."
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