DID Press: Two members of US House of Representatives resigned on Monday amid escalating misconduct allegations, while two others are facing potential expulsion, deepening political turmoil in Washington.
Eric Swalwell, a Democratic lawmaker from California, stepped down following allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment made by multiple women. He has denied the accusations but acknowledged “errors in judgment.” Hours later, Republican Representative Tony Gonzales also announced his resignation after admitting to a past relationship with a former aide.
Meanwhile, two additional lawmakers from Florida—Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and Republican Cory Mills—are under separate investigations, with possible disciplinary action under consideration.
Democratic Representative Nydia Velázquez has called for the resignation of all four lawmakers, warning that failure to step down should lead to expulsion, arguing Congress must not tolerate abuse of staff or breaches of public trust.
Expulsion from the House requires a two-thirds majority vote, a threshold rarely met and invoked only six times in over two centuries of U.S. legislative history.
Lawmakers from both parties are now weighing formal expulsion measures, with procedural moves expected in the coming days. The developments come at a politically sensitive moment, as the Republican majority in the House remains narrow and any vacancy could trigger special elections in affected districts.