Swalwell and Gonzales resigned from Congress due to threats of expulsion

This may have happened as “the week of expulsion.”

Instead, this may be “clearing week.”

The House has expelled only six Members in the history of the republic. But it is possible that just like on Monday, the House has faced the expulsion of four people.

A two-thirds vote is required to expel a Member. The House last impeached its own in late 2023: former Rep. George Santos (RN.Y.). Before that, you have to go back to 2002 when the House removed Rep. Jim Traficant (D-Ohio) late.

A FIFTH WINNER CAME IN FRONT OF ERIC SWALWELL’S EYES BEFORE THE EXPECTED TIME LEAVE.

Here is the decision block:

Calls to oust former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) piled up after reports surfaced that he sexually assaulted an aide and several other women. Swalwell initially said he would fight the allegations. He then withdrew his bid for governor of California after a number of close allies withdrew their support. Swalwell has now resigned, avoiding an embarrassing sacking.

Then there’s former Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas). At first, Gonzales refused to date the helper who committed suicide by self-immolation. Gonzales was locked in a tight race against Brandon Herrera who was running for Republican Congress. But after pressure, Gonzales finally left the program and did not stand for re-election. However, Gonzales intended to continue until his term expires on January 3 next year. But now Gonzales is out the door, too.

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So two down, two to go.

This is where things get complicated.

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) could soon face impeachment. In late March, the House Ethics Committee held an unusual “trial,” announcing that he had received a surprise $5 million in COVID relief funds. The Ethics Panel is likely to recommend punishment for Cherfilus-McCormick next week. The full House does not have to consider or comply with the prescribed discipline. Congress declares his innocence. He faces criminal charges in Florida in February 2027.

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“The facts are indisputable at this point so I believe it will be the consensus of this panel that he be fired,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said lawmakers should fire Rep. Sheila Cherfilius-McCormick, D-Fla., after the House ethics panel found her guilty of more than 25 ethics violations. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images; Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Rep. Greg Stuebe (R-Fla.) filed a resolution to jump Cherfilus-McCormick in the body a few months ago.

And for the Republicans, there is Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.). Mills has been accused of “stolen heroism” and exaggeration of his military record. But what is causing the current expulsion is the allegation that the congressman beat his girlfriend at the beginning of 2025. A judge issued a restraining order against Mills. However, the police never charged the congressman. The Ethics Committee is also investigating whether he violated federal campaign rules. But the Florida Republican’s constitutional investigation is not that far removed from the Cherfilus-McCormick investigation.

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Johnson remembers that fact.

“Regarding Mills, I’m not sure what the Ethics Committee’s investigation is and that’s some of the things I’ll be looking at today,” Johnson said.

Four members have problems. Two Democrats and two Republicans. It was that equality that may have prompted the House to take the unprecedented step of expelling those four Members before Swalwell and Gonzales announced their resignations. But the push to fire Cherfiulus-McCormick and not Mill is causing a lot of trouble in the House.

GONZALES HIT THE GATE BEFORE THE EXPECTED LEAVE.

It’s about math.

The House sworn in by Rep. Clay Fuller (R-Ga.) on Monday night. Fuller won a special election last week to replace outgoing Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). That GOP advantage may have been offset by the expected victory of Democratic congressional candidate Analilia Mejia in Thursday’s special election in New Jersey. This is a Democratic seat that has been vacant since New Jersey Gov. and former Congresswoman Mikie Sherill (D) resigned from the House last fall.

Republican congressional candidate Clay Fuller, left, speaks next to President Donald Trump, during a visit to Coosa Steel Corporation in Rome, Georgia, on Feb. 19, 2026. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

With Swalwell and Gonzales out and Fuller in, the current division is 431 members: 217 Republicans and 213 Democrats. Rep. Kevin Kiley (Calif.) has dropped his GOP affiliation. Fuller’s addition and Meija’s presumed win would make the split 217 to 214 and one independent – one vacancy, totaling 432 Members. After the resignations of Swalwell and Gonzales, the remaining open seat is a heavily Republican state in northern California, long held by Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.). He died in January.

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But what happens if the House goes for Cherfilus-McCormick and not Mills? That creates an imbalance between the parties – something that was lost when the expulsion of four members was on the table.

“What about this issue of moderation,” yours truly asked House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (DN.Y.).

“The issue of equality was not something we had discussed. We were fixing what is in front of us today and that is what we will continue to do,” answered Jeffries.

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I followed.

“But isn’t that a concern, anyway, if they take action against Cherfilus-McCormick? His code of conduct is better than Mr. Mills,” I asked.

“The ethics plan is not complete and we will see what the Ethics Committee will recommend next week,” replied Jeffries.

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That’s a reference to the upcoming ethics panel meeting, which recommends punishment for the Florida Democrat.

It would be one thing if the House could impeach four members, two Republicans and two Democrats, all at once. But it is better now that Gonzales and Swalwell step aside. It is also difficult given the unequal nature of the ethical questions surrounding Cherfilus-McCormick and Mills.

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., speaks after being sworn in during a ceremony at the Broward County Commission chambers in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Jan. 27, 2025. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

It seems that Congress is constantly inventing new proposals. A record-breaking government shutdown – only to be replaced by another record-breaking government shutdown. In addition, the House is facing a dramatic increase in the raw number of “accusations” it makes to members. Reprimand is the second highest form of punishment in the house, just behind expulsion.

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The House criticized Rep. Charlie Rangel (DN.Y.) who passed away in late 2010. Before that, the House last reprimanded the late Reps. Gerry Studds (D-Mass.) and Daniel Crane (R-Ill.) in 1983. But since 2021, the House has criticized. Paul Senriz. Schiff (D-Calif.) – while serving in the House – Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), former Rep. Jamaal Bowman (DN.Y.) and Rep. Al Green (D-Texas).

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) recently characterized the impeachment inquiry as a “political” tool for the ethics process.

It is possible that the House may not take immediate action on Cherfilus-McCormick and Mills. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle may be more willing to fire their own — and perhaps replace a party on their side — if the same outcome is guaranteed across the board.

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With such a strong majority, Republicans may be reluctant to cede power to Democrats if the House expels a GOP member as they try to cling to a majority. In the same way, it is doubtful that Democrats are willing to be impressed if they are within a sneeze distance of the majority – if they do not see the political balance and results of writing in the majority of the Republicans.

Furthermore, tracking where the votes lie for disciplinary action is nearly impossible. Further complicating this is whether or not any motion to oust comes to a reality, up/down vote. There are often proposals to “table” or kill any decision to discipline a Member. The same applies to proposals to “refer” or refer allegations against a Member to the Ethics Committee for further consideration. For example, the Ethics panel has completed its review of Cherfilus-McCormick and is investigating Mills. So it’s unclear what will happen with any proposal to “refer.”

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And let’s be frank: some lawmakers really want to vote to punish one of their colleagues or want no part of it at all. The decision to judge your partner is one of the most difficult votes that lawmakers make. And a vote to go to war. That’s why some prefer the political fig leaf of a “motion to consider” or “motion to table” rather than an actual up/down vote to punish one of their own.

So this could be “fire week” on Capitol Hill. It really is “cleansing week.” And if there is no further disciplinary action, some lawmakers will resign from that outcome.