Congressional Expulsion Efforts Gain Steam: Swalwell, Gonzales, and More Under Fire
The movement to expel scandal-plagued members of Congress is gaining momentum, with potential expulsion votes scheduled for this week. Representatives Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales are expected to face immediate expulsion threats when the House reconvenes after a two-week recess on Tuesday.
Swalwell is facing multiple sexual assault and misconduct allegations, including an incident in New York City under criminal investigation. Gonzales admitted to an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide and is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee.
Efforts to expel Swalwell and Gonzales are being led by Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Teresa Leger Fernandez, who are advocating for their removal from the House of Representatives. Lawmakers from both parties are increasingly supporting the expulsion of these members.
The process of expelling a member of Congress requires a two-thirds majority vote, making it a challenging task. Former Rep. George Santos was the most recent member to be expelled in 2023, and the success of expulsion resolutions for Swalwell and Gonzales remains uncertain.
House Republican and Democratic leadership have not commented on the expulsion efforts targeting Swalwell and Gonzales. Other lawmakers, such as Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and Cory Mills, may also face expulsion resolutions, but support for their removal is limited at this time.
Cherfilus-McCormick is facing serious legal troubles for allegedly misusing disaster relief funds for her campaign and personal use. Mills has been embroiled in controversies related to misrepresenting his military service, domestic violence allegations, and misuse of committee assignments for personal gain.
House Democratic leadership is awaiting the ethics panel's decision on Cherfilus-McCormick before taking any action. Both Cherfilus-McCormick and Mills have denied any wrongdoing and are seeking re-election despite the allegations against them.