Four House Members Face Rare Expulsion Votes

Allegations of sexual misconduct and ethics violations could lead to historic removals from Congress.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 5:07pm

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A fractured, abstract painting in shades of blue, red, and grey, depicting the symbols of government - a gavel, ballot box, and podium - in an overlapping, turbulent composition that conveys the tumultuous nature of the potential expulsion proceedings.The prospect of rare Congressional expulsion votes reflects the gravity of misconduct allegations and growing calls for accountability in the halls of power.Gonzales Today

Four members of the U.S. House of Representatives - two Democrats and two Republicans - could face expulsion votes in the coming weeks, an extraordinarily rare rebuke from their colleagues. The potential targets include California Democrat Eric Swalwell, New Mexico Democrat Teresa Leger Fernández, Texas Republican Tony Gonzales, and Florida lawmakers Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and Cory Mills. Expulsion requires a two-thirds majority vote in the House.

Why it matters

Expulsion from Congress is an extremely rare event, with only six members ever being removed in the institution's history. The possibility of multiple lawmakers facing this sanction at once highlights the gravity of the alleged misconduct and the growing pressure on Congress to hold its members accountable for ethical breaches and abuses of power.

The details

The expulsion debate was reignited after reports surfaced about sexual assault allegations against Rep. Eric Swalwell, who has since suspended his campaign for California governor. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus, has called for Swalwell and Rep. Tony Gonzales, who is under investigation for alleged sexual misconduct, to immediately resign. Fernández also said she would vote to expel Reps. Cherfilus-McCormick and Mills, who are facing their own ethics probes.

  • In late March, the House Ethics Committee found Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick guilty of more than two dozen ethics charges.
  • The Ethics Committee plans to hold another hearing on April 21 to determine any sanctions for Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick.
  • Rep. Mills has been under investigation by the Ethics Committee for months over allegations of sexual misconduct and other potential violations.

The players

Eric Swalwell

A Democratic congressman from California who recently suspended his campaign for governor following sexual assault allegations.

Teresa Leger Fernández

The chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus and a Democratic congresswoman from New Mexico.

Tony Gonzales

A Republican congressman from Texas who is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for alleged sexual misconduct towards a congressional staffer.

Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

A Democratic congresswoman from Florida who was found guilty of more than two dozen ethics charges by the House Ethics Committee in late March.

Cory Mills

A Republican congressman from Florida who is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for allegations of sexual misconduct and other potential violations.

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What they’re saying

“Rep. Swalwell's actions would not be tolerated in any place of work, and the United States Congress should be no different. We must believe and support survivors, and hold perpetrators accountable.”

— Teresa Leger Fernández, Chair, Democratic Women's Caucus

“Reps. Gonzales and Swalwell are not fit to serve. They must resign. If they do not, I will vote to expel them.”

— Teresa Leger Fernández, Chair, Democratic Women's Caucus

What’s next

The House Ethics Committee plans to hold another hearing on April 21 to determine any sanctions for Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick.

The takeaway

The possibility of multiple House members facing expulsion at once underscores the seriousness of the alleged misconduct and the growing pressure on Congress to hold its members accountable for ethical breaches. This could set a new precedent for how the House handles cases of sexual misconduct and other violations of public trust.