WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives is cleaning house.
Facing potentially embarrassing expulsion votes, Reps. Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales, who are both mired in rapidly devolving scandals, separately said they'd leave Congress within an hour of each other on April 13.
Swalwell, a California Democrat, was accused in recent days of sexual assault and misconduct by multiple women. He has denied those allegations, calling them "absolutely false." Gonzales, a Texas Republican, admitted to having an extramarital affair with a staffer who died in September 2025. Gonzales said on a podcast that he'd "made a mistake" and "had a lapse in judgment."
Just seven months before crucial midterm elections could shift the balance of power in Washington, the high-profile exits punctuated a new #MeToo moment on Capitol Hill. It's part of a broader ethical reckoning that's highlighting the power of female lawmakers – and historically tight voting margins in the House, with President Donald Trump's agenda at stake.
Over the weekend, the chorus of bipartisan calls for the congressmen to resign – or risk getting thrown out – reached a fever pitch. Swalwell's gubernatorial campaign imploded in a matter of hours following a series of damning reports, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, including his longtime Golden State ally Nancy Pelosi, quickly soured on him. Democrats seized on the moment with an "eye for an eye" mentality – promising to force an expulsion vote for Gonzales, whom House Speaker Mike Johnson had already asked not to seek reelection, in tandem with their support for Swalwell's ouster.
