A growing bipartisan chorus of lawmakers is publicly calling for the resignation or expulsion of Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) over misconduct allegations, with several members indicating they would support an expulsion vote. The pressure extends beyond party lines, as Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) faces his own separate misconduct claims, raising the prospect of dual expulsion proceedings that would be historically extraordinary for the U.S. House of Representatives.
◉ Key Facts
- ►Multiple Democratic and Republican lawmakers have publicly stated they would vote to expel Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) over misconduct allegations
- ►Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) is simultaneously facing his own separate misconduct claims, with members also expressing willingness to vote on his expulsion
- ►Expulsion from the House requires a two-thirds supermajority vote — a threshold that has been met only six times in the entire history of the chamber
- ►The bipartisan nature of the calls is notable, as members of both parties have signaled a willingness to hold their own colleagues accountable
- ►The House Ethics Committee’s role in investigating and recommending action on both cases will be central to determining whether formal expulsion proceedings advance
The escalating pressure on Rep. Swalwell marks a significant intensification of scrutiny that has followed the California Democrat for several years. Swalwell, who represents California’s 10th Congressional District and has served in Congress since 2013, has been a polarizing figure in Washington. He previously gained national attention for his brief 2020 presidential campaign and his role as a House impeachment manager during former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial. The misconduct allegations now fueling expulsion calls add a new and potentially career-ending dimension to his political trajectory. While the specific nature of the current allegations has generated significant public discussion, the willingness of fellow Democrats to join Republicans in calling for accountability represents a departure from the more common pattern of party-line defense that typically characterizes such situations on Capitol Hill.
The parallel scrutiny facing Rep. Tony Gonzales adds a remarkable bipartisan dimension to the current moment. Gonzales, who has represented Texas’s 23rd Congressional District since 2021, has been a somewhat maverick figure within the Republican conference, occasionally breaking with party leadership on key votes including gun safety legislation and government funding measures. His willingness to cross party lines on policy has at times made him a target within his own party, and the misconduct allegations now leveled against him have created a situation where both parties must simultaneously grapple with questions of internal discipline. The fact that members from both sides of the aisle have expressed willingness to vote for expulsion of members within their own parties is historically unusual and suggests that the current Congress may be approaching ethics enforcement with a different calculus than in recent years.
📚 Background & Context
The U.S. House of Representatives has expelled only six members in its entire history — three during the Civil War era for supporting the Confederacy, and the most recent being Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) in December 2023, who was removed following a damning Ethics Committee report detailing fraud, misuse of campaign funds, and serial dishonesty. The Santos expulsion required a two-thirds vote and passed 311-114, with significant bipartisan support. Prior to Santos, no member had been expelled since 2002 when Rep. James Traficant (D-Ohio) was removed after being convicted of federal corruption charges. The constitutional authority for expulsion is found in Article I, Section 5 of the Constitution, which grants each chamber the power to “punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.”
The prospect of two simultaneous expulsion efforts — one targeting a Democrat and one targeting a Republican — would be without modern precedent and could have significant political ramifications. With the current narrow margins in the House, any seat vacancies triggered by expulsions would immediately affect the balance of power and could necessitate special elections in both California and Texas. The House Ethics Committee, which operates on a bipartisan basis with equal representation from both parties, would typically play a central role in investigating allegations and making recommendations before any expulsion vote reaches the floor. Whether formal Ethics Committee investigations are opened, how quickly they proceed, and what they ultimately recommend will be critical variables in determining whether the current rhetoric translates into concrete legislative action. Congressional observers note that calls for expulsion often serve as political pressure to encourage voluntary resignation, which has historically been the more common outcome when members face serious allegations. Both Swalwell and Gonzales will face intense pressure in the coming weeks to respond substantively to the allegations and to the growing calls from their colleagues.
The coming days and weeks will be pivotal. Key factors to watch include whether House leadership in both parties formally backs expulsion proceedings, whether the Ethics Committee initiates or accelerates investigations, and whether either lawmaker chooses to resign rather than face a floor vote. Additionally, the political dynamics within each party’s conference — particularly how rank-and-file members calculate the political costs and benefits of supporting expulsion of a colleague — will shape the trajectory of both cases. The slim Republican majority in the current Congress means that even procedural maneuvering around expulsion resolutions could become entangled with the broader legislative agenda.
💬 What People Are Saying
Based on public reaction across social media and news platforms, here is the general consensus on this story:
- 🔴Conservative commentators have largely focused on Swalwell’s case, pointing to longstanding concerns about his past association with a suspected Chinese intelligence operative and arguing that his continued service in Congress represents a national security liability. Many on the right view the misconduct allegations as further justification for removal and have expressed frustration that action was not taken sooner. Some conservatives have also acknowledged the Gonzales situation, with a faction arguing that Republicans must hold their own members to the same standard to maintain credibility.
- 🔵Liberal and progressive voices have expressed a range of reactions. Some Democrats have emphasized the importance of due process and cautioned against rushing to expulsion before formal investigations are complete. Others, however, have signaled that if the allegations are substantiated, accountability must transcend party loyalty — particularly in light of criticism Democrats leveled at Republicans during the Santos controversy. Many on the left have also highlighted the Gonzales case, arguing that any expulsion effort must be applied equally regardless of party.
- 🟠The broader public reaction reflects deep frustration with congressional misconduct and a growing appetite for accountability. Many centrist and independent commentators have noted that the bipartisan nature of the calls is a positive sign, suggesting that ethical standards may be gaining priority over partisan calculations. There is widespread agreement that the Ethics Committee should act swiftly and transparently, and polling on congressional approval — which remains near historic lows — suggests voters are eager to see Congress police its own members more aggressively.
Note: Social reactions represent general public sentiment and do not reflect Political.org’s editorial position.
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