Republican Calls for 3 House Members to Resign Over Scandals

Mike Lawler demands Eric Swalwell, Tony Gonzales and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick step down immediately

Apr. 12, 2026 at 3:35pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A photorealistic painting of the U.S. Capitol building in soft, warm light and deep shadows, conveying a sense of political unease and uncertainty.The Capitol building stands alone, a symbol of the ethical challenges facing Congress as lawmakers grapple with scandals and calls for accountability.Manhattan Today

Representative Mike Lawler, a New York Republican, has called for the immediate resignation of three fellow members of Congress - Democrat Eric Swalwell of California, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida, and Texas GOP Representative Tony Gonzales - over myriad controversies and scandals. Lawler said the House should move to expel them if they refuse to step down, adding that Congress must hold itself to the highest ethical standard.

Why it matters

Lawler's intervention adds to signs of growing bipartisan frustration with House leadership and raises the stakes for potential disciplinary action in a narrowly divided House where Republicans hold a very slim majority. There have only been six House expulsions in history, with all but one of the expelled members being Democrats.

The details

Swalwell is facing multiple sexual misconduct allegations and a criminal investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney's office. Cherfilus-McCormick was found by the House Ethics Adjudicatory Subcommittee to have improperly used FEMA disaster relief funds to finance her 2021 campaign. Gonzales admitted to having an extramarital affair with a staffer who later died by suicide, and is now under a House Ethics Committee investigation.

  • On April 8, 2026, Lawler called for the immediate resignation of Swalwell, Cherfilus-McCormick, and Gonzales.
  • The House Ethics Adjudicatory Subcommittee found Cherfilus-McCormick's ethics violations in 2023.
  • Gonzales ended his reelection campaign in 2023 after admitting to the affair.

The players

Mike Lawler

A Republican Representative from New York who has called for the resignation of three fellow House members over ethics scandals.

Eric Swalwell

A Democratic Representative from California facing multiple sexual misconduct allegations and a criminal investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney's office.

Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

A Democratic Representative from Florida found by the House Ethics Adjudicatory Subcommittee to have improperly used FEMA disaster relief funds to finance her 2021 campaign.

Tony Gonzales

A Republican Representative from Texas who admitted to having an extramarital affair with a staffer who later died by suicide, and is now under a House Ethics Committee investigation.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Congress must hold itself to the highest ethical standard regardless of party.”

— Mike Lawler, Republican Representative from New York

“I look forward to proving my innocence.”

— Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Democratic Representative from Florida

“I made a mistake, and I had a lapse in judgment, and there was a lack of faith, and I take full responsibility for those actions.”

— Tony Gonzales, Republican Representative from Texas

What’s next

The House will consider disciplinary measures such as censure, suspension, or expulsion, which requires a two-thirds vote, if House leaders bring the issues forward.

The takeaway

This scandal highlights the growing bipartisan frustration with ethical lapses in Congress and the potential for increased accountability and disciplinary action, even in a narrowly divided House.