A growing chorus on Capitol Hill is calling for accountability as allegations of misconduct against two sitting members of Congress fuel bipartisan outrage and raise serious questions about standards in Washington.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) said she believes there is enough support in the House to expel both Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) and Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), following separate allegations of sexual misconduct that have drawn condemnation from both sides of the aisle.
Luna indicated she plans to introduce a motion targeting Swalwell, who has come under intense scrutiny after a report alleged he sexually assaulted a former aide in incidents dating back to 2019 and 2024. According to the report, the alleged encounters occurred while the woman was too intoxicated to give consent. The claims have triggered bipartisan calls for Swalwell to step down, though he has firmly denied the allegations.
At the same time, Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-N.M.) is leading a separate effort to remove Gonzales from office. Gonzales acknowledged having an affair with a congressional staffer, a violation of House rules. The situation took a tragic turn when the staffer later died after setting herself on fire last year.
Luna emphasized that even setting aside criminal allegations, violations of House ethics rules alone should not be tolerated. She pointed to reported evidence, including screenshots cited in media coverage, arguing that such behavior undermines public trust in elected officials.
“It’s against House rules to have an inappropriate relationship with your staff, and it’s also against House rules to sexually harass your staff,” Luna said, adding that members who violate those standards should step aside. She suggested that both cases represent a failure to uphold the dignity expected of public office.
The push for expulsion is gaining traction among lawmakers from both parties, including Reps. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), and Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), all of whom have voiced support for removing the embattled lawmakers.
Still, the path forward is far from certain. Expelling a member of Congress requires a two-thirds majority in the House, a high bar that has historically made such actions rare. Luna, however, expressed confidence that the votes are there, questioning whether colleagues would risk appearing to defend misconduct ahead of upcoming elections.
Meanwhile, the House Ethics Committee has opened an investigation into Swalwell, stating it will examine whether he violated the Code of Official Conduct or any applicable laws or regulations. The panel’s findings could play a pivotal role in determining the next steps.
Swalwell has already suspended his campaign for governor of California amid mounting pressure from fellow Democrats, while Gonzales announced earlier this year that he would not seek reelection following the fallout from his admitted relationship.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has urged caution, maintaining that the Ethics Committee should be allowed to complete its investigations before the chamber takes punitive action.
As Washington grapples with these developments, the controversy underscores a broader concern: whether the institution can hold its own members accountable without descending into political spectacle. For many Americans, the expectation is simple—those entrusted with power must be held to the highest standards, and anything less risks further eroding confidence in government.
