A contentious battle is brewing in Congress following the alleged sex scandal involving Eric Swalwell, with both Republicans and Democrats gearing up for potential expulsion votes against him and other colleagues with questionable backgrounds.
Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna has announced plans to push for a House floor vote this week to remove Swalwell, who recently dropped out of the California governor race. Lawmakers are set to return from a two-week Spring break to address the issue.
Expelling a sitting member from the House is a rare occurrence, requiring a two-thirds majority vote. The most recent expulsion was in 2023 when New York Rep. George Santos was ousted over allegations of misusing campaign funds for personal expenses.
In response to the move against Swalwell, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries is expected to propose expelling Texas Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales, who has been implicated in a separate sexual scandal. Gonzales has acknowledged an affair with a staffer who tragically died by suicide but denies any involvement in her death, leading him to withdraw from reelection.
The push for expulsions may extend to other lawmakers, with Florida Republican Rep. Cory Mills facing accusations of assault against a woman, and Democratic Florida Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick indicted for allegedly embezzling federal disaster funds. Both have denied the allegations.
Rep. Byron Donalds, a leading Republican candidate for Florida governor, expressed support for ejecting both Swalwell and Gonzales from the House, emphasizing the seriousness of the allegations and the need for accountability.
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