Bipartisan Expulsion Push Roils Congress Amid Ethics Scandals

Public confidence in Congress is eroding under the weight of simultaneous ethics crises that have already claimed two seats and now threaten more. What began as separate allegations against members of both parties has coalesced into an unusual cross-aisle demand for expulsions, exposing the gap between rhetoric about accountability and the institution's historic reluctance to police itself. The central tension is whether this moment will produce consistent standards or devolve into selective score-settling.

The House Ethics Committee is scheduled to recommend sanctions Tuesday against Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., after determining in March that 25 of 27 allegations against her were proven by clear and convincing evidence. The findings center on her alleged diversion of more than $5 million in disaster relief funds to her family's company and then to her campaign, spending on luxury items including jewelry, a Tesla and designer clothing, according to the committee's 59-page report. Cherfilus-McCormick has denied wrongdoing, pleaded not guilty to a related 11-count federal indictment filed in November 2025, and told Fox News she will not resign. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., has pledged to force a floor vote on her expulsion regardless; Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., called the facts "alarming" and predicted broad support. Expulsion requires a two-thirds majority.

Axios interviews with more than 30 House Democrats found many prepared to supply the necessary votes if the committee recommends removal, with Reps. Angie Craig, Eric Sorensen, Shri Thanedar and others telling the outlet the charges demand high standards. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats would caucus after the hearing and "follow the facts and apply the relevant law without fear or favor."

The Cherfilus-McCormick case follows the April 14 resignations of Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., and Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas. Swalwell stepped down amid sexual misconduct allegations from multiple women; Gonzales admitted an affair with a staffer. A bipartisan pair, Reps. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., and Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M., had built momentum for expulsion votes that made staying untenable, according to multiple accounts. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., called the exits a turning point but named Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., as next. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., urged stripping both men of pensions.

Mills himself faces an expulsion resolution filed April 20 by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C. Mace's measure cites allegations of sexual misconduct, violence against women, stolen valor and misuse of campaign funds. However, the formal referral from the Office of Congressional Ethics transmitted to the Ethics Committee in December 2024 addresses only financial disclosure failures, excessive contributions, federal contracts and in-kind donations; it does not include personal misconduct claims. Mills responded on X by highlighting Mace's own Ethics Committee investigation, stemming from a March 2026 referral over alleged reimbursement overcharges, and called for a prompt vote rather than "political fundraising theatrics."

One outlet reported that Rep. Clay Fuller, R-Ga., suggested expanding the death penalty to rape committed by those in positions of trust during an interview with influencer Benny Johnson; that specific transcript could not be independently verified in other coverage. Broader reactions compressed: most Democrats have stayed quiet on Cherfilus-McCormick pending the committee's final word, while the Congressional Black Caucus has remained largely silent despite her membership.

The House has expelled only six members in history, the last being Rep. George Santos in 2023. Investigations often drag for months with little transparency. Proposals for reform include a public real-time dashboard for all ethics complaints and automatic pension forfeiture upon felony convictions tied to official conduct, even if resignation precedes final action. Whether the current pressure produces those changes or simply clears a few seats remains unresolved.