Representative Mike Lawler, a New York Republican, has called for the immediate resignation of three fellow members of Congress over myriad controversies and said the House should move to expel them if they refuse.
In a post on X Saturday, Lawler wrote, “Congress must hold itself to the highest ethical standard regardless of party,” and singled out Democrat Eric Swalwell of California and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida, as well as Texas GOP Representative Tony Gonzales, all of whom are engulfed in scandals.
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, according to the Office of the House Historian, three of them during the Civil War, and all but one of the expelled members were Democrats.
What To Know
Eric Swalwell: Facing Multiple Sexual Misconduct Allegations and a Manhattan DA Investigation
Four women have accused Swalwell of varied misconduct: unwanted advances, sexually explicit messages and non-consensual sexual contact during office trips or events involving heavy drinking, according to reporting by CNN and The San Francisco Chronicle.
One former staffer alleges he raped her in a New York hotel in 2024. A Manhattan District Attorney’s criminal investigation is now underway. Swalwell denies all misconduct, calling the allegations politically motivated, though Democratic leaders have called on him to withdraw from his governor’s race and consider resigning.
Sheila Cherfilus‑McCormick: Ethics Panel Found 25 Violations Involving FEMA Funds
The House Ethics Adjudicatory Subcommittee found that Cherfilus-McCormick improperly used Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster relief funds to finance her 2021 campaign—substantiating 25 out of 27 allegations.
“I look forward to proving my innocence,” Cherfilus-McCormick said after those findings were made public.
At least two House Democrats, plus the independent watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and Florida Republican Representative Greg Steube, have urged her to resign. A full Ethics Committee vote could lead to expulsion.
Tony Gonzales: Dropped Reelection Bid After Admitting Affair, Now Under House Ethics Investigation
Gonzales admitted he had an extramarital affair with a staffer who later died by suicide. Following revelations—including suggestive text messages—and amid pressure from House Republicans including Speaker Mike Johnson, he ended his reelection campaign.
“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,” Gonzales said in an interview on the Joe Pags Show.
The House Ethics Committee has launched a formal investigation into violations of its conduct rules.
“I welcome the opportunity to present all the facts to the committee,” Gonzales said.
Additional House Members Under Scrutiny
Cory Mills: Facing Ethics Probe, Alleged Personal Misconduct and Financial Missteps
A formal House Ethics Committee investigation has scrutinized Mills, a Florida Republican, along several lines: misuse of campaign funds, failure to disclose required financial information, improper solicitation of gifts tied to official travel, and sexual misconduct or dating violence allegations that resulted in a judicial protective order in 2025.
“I believe that all the accusations and false things that are being said will be proven to be absolutely false in many ways,” Mills said from the House floor after the investigation was announced. “I have the evidence and receipts and look forward to working with them.”
The Office of Congressional Ethics referred a 33-page report in December 2024, charging that Mills’ defense-related companies were awarded federal contracts while he was in Congress—potentially improperly—and that he misreported financial data and violated campaign finance rules.
Additional reports, including one by Mother Jones and a local editorial board, are highly critical, claiming potential “stolen valor” over his military claims and recounting accusations of physical violence and threats—such as one involving a protective order and alleged “revenge porn” threats—though criminal charges have not been filed. A House vote in late 2025 referred a separate censure resolution by South Carolina Republican Representative Nancy Mace to the Ethics Committee, which remains unresolved.
Nancy Mace: Under Investigation for Exceeding Housing Reimbursements
The House Ethics Committee opened an inquiry into Mace over reportedly over‑claiming $9,485 in housing expenses, according to a report by the Office of Congressional Conduct. The investigation is unresolved, and no formal calls for her resignation have emerged.
List of Representatives Expelled From the House
- John B. Clark (1861)—Expelled for disloyalty to the Union after taking up arms for the Confederacy during the Civil War.
- John W. Reid (1861)—Removed from the House for supporting the Confederacy, having aligned himself with the rebellion against the Union.
- Henry C. Burnett (1861)—Expelled for fighting for the Confederacy and rejecting loyalty to the United States during the Civil War.
- Michael J. Myers (1980)—Expelled after being convicted of bribery in the FBI’s ABSCAM corruption investigation.
- James A. Traficant Jr. (2002)—Removed following convictions for bribery, racketeering, obstruction of justice, tax evasion, and conspiracy.
- George Santos (2023)—Expelled after being federally indicted on multiple counts, including wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, false statements, and ethics violations tied to campaign finance misconduct.
What Happens Next
If House leaders bring disciplinary measures forward, the chamber will consider censure, suspension, or expulsion, which requires a two-thirds vote, according to standard House practice.
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