The U.S. House of Representatives is bracing for a potential wave of expulsions that could see Florida Representatives Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and Cory Mills forced out of office.
While the eyes of the nation turned to the Monday evening resignations of Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California and Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas, the focus within the halls of Congress is shifting toward the unresolved ethics cases involving the two Florida lawmakers.
Representative Cherfilus-McCormick, a Democrat, faces a precarious future after a March vote by the House Ethics Committee that found her guilty of more than two dozen ethics charges.
These findings came after a formal public hearing, and the panel is scheduled to meet again on April 21 to determine what sanctions to recommend to the full House.
RELATED: Florida GOP Demands Dems Break Silence On Cherfilus-McCormick Indictment With Petition
Simultaneously, Republican Representative Cory Mills remains under a months-long investigation by the same committee. The probe into Mills involves allegations of misconduct concerning sexual misconduct and dating violence, among other potential violations.
The pressure on the Florida delegation intensified as Swalwell and Gonzales chose to step down rather than face an immediate expulsion vote. Swalwell’s exit follows the suspension of his gubernatorial campaign amid allegations of sexual assault.
In a statement on X, Swalwell noted his awareness of a looming expulsion effort, writing, “Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But it’s also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress.”
Shortly after, Gonzales announced his own departure, stating, “When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office.” Gonzales had been under investigation for alleged sexual misconduct toward a staff member.
RELATED: Gonzales Bows Out: Embattled Texas Republican To Retire From Congress As Expulsion Calls Grow
The calls for accountability have been bipartisan and swift. New Mexico Representative Teresa Leger Fernández, who chairs the Democratic Women’s Caucus, characterized the reports as “horrific” and insisted that “Reps. Gonzales and Swalwell are not fit to serve.”
Florida Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna also signaled her intent to support an expulsion resolution on social media.
Removing a member from the House is a rare and historic move that requires a two-thirds majority vote. Throughout U.S. history, the chamber has expelled only six members. The most recent was New York Republican George Santos in December 2023, following a litany of federal charges, including wire fraud and theft of public money.
Before Santos, the House had not seen an expulsion since 2002, when Ohio’s James A. Traficant was removed for racketeering and tax evasion.
As the Ethics Committee prepares its next steps for Cherfilus-McCormick and continues its investigation into Mills, the Florida representatives may soon face the same rare disciplinary process that has historically been reserved for cases of disloyalty to the Union or criminal conviction.
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