Swalwell and Gonzales Are Gone. Congress Is Coming for Two More.
The big picture: Lawmakers are pushing to oust two more members of Congress: Republican Cory Mills of Florida, facing an Ethics investigation covering sexual misconduct, restraining orders, campaign finance violations, and nearly $1M in federal contracts to companies he owned; and Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida, already found guilty by the Ethics panel of 25 charges related to stealing $5 million in FEMA money for her campaign. She’s also been criminally indicted. The Ethics Committee meets April 21st. AOC says both should go. Boebert says she’s “tired of protecting these people.”
Why it matters: In one week, Congress has pushed out or is moving against four members — two Democrats, two Republicans — over sexual assault, revenge porn, restraining orders, federal contract corruption, and stolen disaster funding. The pile of misconduct got so high that even Congress’s legendary tolerance for bad behavior couldn’t hold.
Cory Mills (R-FL): Two sexual misconduct allegations from two different women. D.C. police investigated for misdemeanor assault (girlfriend recanted). Florida judge issued a restraining order over revenge porn allegations from a different ex-girlfriend. The OCE found “substantial reason to believe” Mills misrepresented financial disclosures, exceeded campaign contribution limits, and illegally profited from federal contracts. 94 federal contracts awarded to his companies since 2024, including nearly $1M in weapons contracts. He denied the claims and refused to cooperate.
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL): Found guilty by the Ethics panel of 25 charges for illegally misusing $5 million in FEMA disaster funding for her congressional campaign. Criminally indicted by a federal grand jury. Denied claims. Pleaded not guilty. Said she won’t run for re-election. Ethics panel meets April 21st to recommend sanctions, potentially including expulsion. Speaker Johnson says there will be “consensus” to expel.
The bipartisan push: AOC: “Swalwell is leaving. Gonzalez is leaving. Cory Mills should probably be on that list as well.” On Cherfilus-McCormick: “Yes. If the Ethics Committee found her guilty, I would vote in accordance with that.” Boebert on Mills: “If you have restraining orders because you are abusing women, you have no business being here. I’m tired of protecting these people.” Expulsion requires two-thirds majority. Precedent: George Santos was expelled under similar circumstances.
By the numbers:
4 — members of Congress pushed out or facing ouster this week
25 — charges Cherfilus-McCormick was found guilty of
94 — federal contracts awarded to companies owned by Mills
$5 million — FEMA money allegedly stolen for a campaign
$1 million — in federal weapons contracts to a Mills-linked company
April 21 — Ethics Committee meets on sanctions
⅔ — majority required for expulsion
The bottom line: Four members. Two parties. Sexual assault, revenge porn, restraining orders, campaign finance fraud, federal contract corruption, and $5 million in stolen FEMA money. The fact that this is all happening at once doesn’t mean Congress found integrity. It means the pile got too high. Boebert’s right: it’s time to stop protecting people who are victimizing women and stealing public money. The question is whether that standard survives past the news cycle — or whether Congress goes back to doing what it does best the moment the cameras move on.
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