Bipartisan Efforts Force Resignations of Swalwell and Gonzales; More House Members May Follow
Washington — Two House members resigned on Tuesday following a cross-party initiative that threatened expulsion, with the lawmakers behind the effort suggesting that more could be next.
In a recent interview, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican, and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, a Democrat, detailed their collaboration to compel Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell and GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales to resign rather than face removal votes due to serious misconduct allegations.
Swalwell has faced multiple accusations of sexual assault and sending unsolicited explicit messages, which he denies. Gonzales is under scrutiny for an affair with a staffer who tragically died by suicide. Notably, Swalwell withdrew from the California gubernatorial race over the weekend, while Gonzales had previously announced he would not seek reelection.
Luna and Leger Fernández worked together to introduce separate resolutions for expulsion, garnering bipartisan support that intensified pressure on both representatives to step down. Luna claimed there was sufficient backing in the chamber to remove them if votes had occurred, stating, "we had two-thirds support for both people to be gone."
Leger Fernández emphasized that the resignations were a direct result of members taking action when House leadership did not respond promptly.
"If it wouldn't have been for those resolutions that we were each filing, they wouldn't have resigned," she remarked, highlighting that the issue gained traction because women involved were willing to "break the silence."
Their coordination began informally after Luna publicly called for action, leading them to align their efforts. Given House rules requiring separate members to file expulsion resolutions, they agreed to support each other's initiatives.
House Speaker Mike Johnson stated he did not influence the rapid resignations of Swalwell and Gonzales but deemed the outcome appropriate, labeling the allegations against Swalwell as "alarming."
Johnson has previously argued for due process for members facing misconduct allegations, including investigations by the House Ethics Committee, which was examining both Swalwell and Gonzales. Additional comments from Johnson are pending.
Luna and Leger Fernández indicated their efforts might extend to other members currently under investigation.
Luna expressed her willingness to support expulsion if warranted in other cases, including those involving Republican Rep. Cory Mills and Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick.
Mills is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for alleged campaign finance violations and sexual misconduct. Cherfilus-McCormick faces federal charges for improperly using pandemic relief funds related to her campaign.
The Ethics Committee recently substantiated most allegations against Cherfilus-McCormick but has yet to recommend punishment.
"If you're knowingly breaking the law, then you need to go," Luna asserted, adding that she believes the threshold for expulsion will be met.
Leger Fernández pointed to the Ethics Committee's findings in Cherfilus-McCormick's case, stating, "We expect the committee report to come out just in a few days." She stressed that lawmakers must maintain "a high level of integrity" to remain in office.
Both Mills and Cherfilus-McCormick have denied any wrongdoing. Mills defended himself against expulsion discussions, asserting he is being unfairly associated with other lawmakers and emphasizing that he faces no criminal charges or allegations involving staff.
"There's absolutely no criminal charges being filed against me… no inappropriate behavior or actions with a staffer or intern on the Hill," he stated.
Cherfilus-McCormick responded in a statement that she does not intend to resign, arguing it would set a "dangerous precedent" to expel members without formal findings against them. She also noted that her allegations differ significantly from those facing her colleagues.
"Lumping them together, particularly with cases involving sexual assault and rape, is inaccurate and irresponsible," she said.
Luna and Leger Fernández framed this week's resignations as part of a broader initiative to address misconduct in Congress, especially regarding power dynamics between members and staff.
"No means no," Luna declared. "You cannot sexually harass or assault people and not expect the law to come down on you."
Leger Fernández reiterated their commitment to holding men accountable and ensuring women are not silenced.
They also expressed concerns about the slow pace of the House Ethics Committee's work, arguing that serious allegations often take too long to address. Luna described the committee as "where things go to die," while Leger Fernández called for reforms to expedite case handling.
Republican Rep. Michael Guest, chair of the ethics panel, acknowledged that some investigations can be completed more quickly than others but noted that complex cases like Cherfilus-McCormick's involve extensive documentation and multiple attorneys. He assured reporters that committee members are diligently working to expedite these cases.
Expelling a House member requires a two-thirds vote, a threshold that has historically made such outcomes rare. Only six members have been expelled in U.S. history, with the most recent being Republican Rep. George Santos, charged with wire fraud and campaign finance violations.
Luna suggested that recent events could trigger "a chain reaction" leading to further actions against other members.
