Next domino set to fall in House ethics saga

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Key hearing for embattled lawmaker

Another Trump Cabinet member out

Iran peace talks status

Mixed messaging on gas prices

The fate of Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.), who has been accused of stealing millions of dollars in improperly paid federal disaster funds for her campaign, could be decided today during a disciplinary hearing in the House Ethics Committee.

The hearing comes days after former Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) and Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) resigned in the face of sexual misconduct allegations. Her case could also have implications for what happens to Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.), who is currently under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for allegations including “dating violence,” campaign finance violations and using his position in Congress to direct business toward weapons and defense companies that he operates.

Only six House members have ever been expelled.

If the committee recommends expulsion for Cherfilus-McCormick, it would be a high bar to remove her, as two-thirds of the House are needed to oust a member, requiring support from members of both parties.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) didn’t commit to accepting the punishment that the committee recommends for Cherfilus-McCormick, saying Democrats will meet as a caucus to discuss the results.

But there are already signs that her expulsion would have some bipartisan support.

Multiple Democrats have come out in favor of ousting her, including two who called on her to resign shortly after the Ethics panel came back with its finding of her culpability.

“You can’t crime your way into legitimate power,” Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) wrote in a post on the social platform X. “Since she was found guilty, she should resign or be removed.”

Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas) compared Cherfilus-McCormick’s alleged conduct to that of former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), who in 2023 became the most recent member of Congress to be expelled after he was found to have committed campaign finance violations and other offenses.

Cherfilus-McCormick is facing a wide range of criminal charges related to the allegations; she has pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing. The trial had been set to start this week but was delayed until next February.

The House Ethics Committee announced late last month that its adjudicatory subcommittee found Cherfilus-McCormick committed 25 ethics violations, out of 27 counts levied against her.

Democrats are demanding that Mills also be expelled, arguing similar conduct should have similar outcomes.

But The Hill’s Mike Lillis and Emily Brooks report an unspoken political dynamic underlying the debate is that neither party wants to give the other an advantage in a narrowly divided House.

That feeling contributed to the dynamics around Swalwell and Gonzales, who resigned on the same day last week in the face of rising bipartisan support to expel them.

That could play out again with Cherfilus-McCormick and Mills, though one complicating factor with the Florida Republican is his ethics investigation isn’t as far along.

The effort to expel Mills also has some support from members of his own party. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), who led the charge against Swalwell and Gonzales, said “If they’re doing this s‑‑‑, then they need to go.”

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) introduced a resolution to expel Mills on Monday. NOTUS reported that he is weighing his own expulsion resolution against Mace and has already drafted it, citing multiple factors, including her tense interaction with security at a South Carolina airport last year.

Following the developments in the cases of current and recent members, the Ethics Committee issued a rare public statement Monday revealing it has conducted 20 investigations into members of the House for allegations of sexual misconduct since 2017.

The panel asked anyone with accusations against a lawmaker to come forward.

The disclosure came amid renewed calls for change in how Congress handles sexual misconduct given the many recent allegations.

▪ The Hill: Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) faces political gauntlet.

Smart Take with Blake Burman

The AI push has been met with backlash in rural communities across the country. Many residents are concerned about data centers and their impact on utility bills and the environment. The debate is playing out in Wyoming, a state where many data centers have popped up, including new plans for Microsoft to purchase 3,200 acres of land to expand its data center footprint. Gov. Mark Gordon (R) told me he’s in favor of the high-tech buildout.

“When they’re addressing the issues for ratepayers, when they’re addressing the issues of water use, and when they provide good paying jobs in this state, and they use the energy that we produce in abundance, it seems like a pretty good recipe,” Gordon said.

Just last week, Maine lawmakers took a totally different stance. For all the backlash against data centers, the embrace of Wyoming’s leaders stands out and lays out the other side of the debate.

Burman hosts “The Hill” weeknights, 6p/5c on NewsNation.

Voters are heading to the polls in Virginia today to cast ballots on a measure to redraw the commonwealth’s congressional districts. If passed, the updated map would likely give Democrats up to four extra seats in the House in the next session of Congress. President Trump called in to a telerally Monday evening to urge Virginians to reject the measure.

Apple CEO Tim Cook will step down from his position after nearly 15 years leading the company, becoming executive director of the board of governors. John Ternus, the senior vice president of hardware engineering, will become CEO in September.

Rep. Analilia Mejia (D-N.J.) has been officially sworn in to fill the seat vacated by New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D). With her addition, the GOP can only afford to lose one vote in party-line votes and still have measures pass.

President Trump listens as Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Oct. 16, 2025, in Washington. (Alex Brandon, Associated Press file)

CHAVEZ-DEREMER’S EXIT: Another woman in Trump’s Cabinet is out, with Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer leaving her role amid allegations of personal misconduct and abuse of office by top aides.

Chavez-DeRemer is the third member of Trump’s Cabinet to leave the administration in just more than a month, following the ousters of former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and former Attorney General Pam Bondi. Although the first year of Trump’s time back in office was marked by remarkable stability within his administration, the Labor Department turnover adds to the mounting tumult in year two.

“Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer will be leaving the Administration to take a position in the private sector,” White House communications director Steven Cheung said in a post on X. “She has done a phenomenal job in her role by protecting American workers, enacting fair labor practices, and helping Americans gain additional skills to improve their lives.”

Cheung said Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling will serve as acting secretary.

Chavez-DeRemer’s departure came as several controversies were surrounding her, her office and her family members. A whistleblower named Chavez-DeRemer’s chief of staff and her deputy in a complaint, alleging they helped coordinate professional travel for the secretary to coincide with personal trips.

The complaint also accused Chavez-DeRemer of drinking while on the job and having an “inappropriate” relationship with a member of her security team, and it alleged senior staffers were aware of her behavior.

The chief of staff and deputy resigned last month after the White House reportedly directed the Labor Department to fire them if they didn’t step down.

Chavez-DeRemer defended herself in a statement posted on her X account Monday evening, saying the allegations against her, her family and her team “have been peddled by high-ranking deep state actors who have been coordinating with the one-sided news media and continue to undermine” Trump’s agenda. She said she will continue to fight “from the outside.”

Two department staff members also reportedly accused Chavez-DeRemer’s husband of sexually assaulting them, resulting in him being banned from department headquarters. His attorney has denied the allegations.

▪ The 19th: In two months, Trump’s Cabinet has lost three women.

EXTENSION ‘UNLIKELY’: The president said he’s “highly unlikely” to agree to extend the ceasefire with Iran ahead of a possible second round of talks with Tehran.

The president told Bloomberg in an interview Monday that the two-week ceasefire, which was announced April 7, would expire on Wednesday evening EDT, potentially giving a little more time for talks. He said he isn’t inclined to extend it further if no deal is reached.

“I’m not going to be rushed into making a bad deal. We’ve got all the time in the world,” he said.

The status of another meeting between U.S. and Iranian officials in Islamabad, Pakistan, seems uncertain as Iran pushes back on Trump’s threats against the country.

“We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats, and in the past two weeks, we have prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield,” Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who has led Tehran in the talks,said in a post on X.

Trump reiterated in a Truth Social post on Sunday his threat to destroy Iran’s power plants and bridges if Tehran doesn’t agree to a deal to end the war.

Vice President Vance is set to lead the delegation, which will also include special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

While Iran has not publicly committed to joining the negotiations, two senior Iranian officials told The New York Times that an Iranian delegation was making travel plans, and Qalibaf would attend if Vance does.

▪ The Hill: Iran seeks to wait Trump out.

▪ The Associated Press: Trump offers mixed messages about path ahead.

WARSH ON THE HILL: The president’s nominee to be the next chair of the Federal Reserve will appear on Capitol Hill today for a confirmation hearing, but his path forward is uncertain due to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) investigation into current Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

The Senate Banking Committee is holding its hearing for former Fed board of governors member Kevin Warsh as Powell’s term is set to come to an end next month. Warsh is expected to have overwhelming support from Republicans, but The Hill’s Sylvan Lane reports Trump’s efforts to oust Powell could undermine his ability to appoint the next chair.

The ongoing DOJ criminal probe into Powell and his oversight of renovations to the Fed’s headquarters has spurred criticism from both sides of the aisle. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who is retiring, has vowed to block any nominee to the Fed until the investigation concludes.

As a member of the banking committee, Tillis can prevent Warsh from being approved by the panel and having his nomination sent to the Senate floor for a full vote of the chamber. That could leave the nomination in limbo and Powell still in charge.

Although Powell’s term ends in a few weeks, he has said he would stay on in an acting role if no successor is confirmed by then, as permitted by law. Trump has said he will move to fire Powell if he stays on after the end of the term, but that would likely launch another legal battle over the Fed’s independence.

▪ Reuters: Fed governor says rate cut still possible this year.

▪ Axios: What we would ask Warsh.

TARIFF REFUNDS: Businesses that paid tariffs under the Trump administration’s policies are now able to apply for refunds in the aftermath of the Supreme Court striking most of them down.

A refund system for businesses officially launched Monday, providing a pathway for them to claim reimbursements for the $166 billion paid on duties before the court’s ruling in February.

Customs and Border Protection will manage the online platform and provide electronic refunds in most cases when applicable, according to court filings. Processing refunds could take 60 to 90 days.

While companies aren’t legally obligated to provide refunds to customers, some have said they will.

▪ NBC4: Who is eligible for refunds?

REST IN PEACE: Virginia Sen. Mark Warner (D) is mourning the death of his daughter, who died at 36 years old after suffering from juvenile diabetes.

“We are heartbroken beyond words by the passing of our beloved daughter, Madison, 36, after a decades-long battle with juvenile diabetes and other health issues. She filled our lives with love and laughter, and her absence leaves an immeasurable void,” Warner and his wife, Lisa Collis, said in a statement posted on X.

Madison is survived by her parents and two younger sisters.

The president will participate in executive time at 8 a.m. He will participate in a live phone interview with CNBC’s Joe Kernen on “Squawk Box” at 8:30 a.m. He will participate in policy meetings at 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. He will deliver remarks to the NCAA Collegiate national champions at 4 p.m. and participate in another policy meeting at 5 p.m.

The House and Senate will convene at 10 a.m.

Gas prices are displayed at a gas station, in Wheeling, Ill., April 15, 2026. (Nam Y. Huh, Associated Press)

MIXED MESSAGES: The president and his Cabinet members are giving conflicting statements about the impact of the war on gas prices as Americans grow more anxious about the economic toll that the conflict is taking.

The cost of gas has soared over the seven weeks since the war began, sending the average national price of regular gas to more than $4 per gallon. The price has dropped a bit in recent days amid optimism about a permanent resolution to the conflict but remains much higher than when the war began.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright raised eyebrows Sunday when he told CNN that gas prices might not drop to less than $3 per gallon until next year. But Trump told The Hill in a phone interview Monday that Wright’s assessment is “totally wrong.”

The president’s comments echo those from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who said he expects gas to reach that mark by the summer. But Trump had earlier given a more pessimistic view, saying prices might not drop at all before the midterm elections.

The Hill’s Julia Manchester and Rachel Frazin report even some of Trump’s most passionate supporters acknowledge gas prices could need time to come down. A return to less than $3 per gallon is also an ambitious goal, as they had only been at that mark for a couple of months and often rise in the summer amid increased demand.

▪ The Hill: GOP stresses over economic whiplash.

▪ The Hill: The Memo: Iran war is doing Trump damage.

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer leaves 10 Downing Street in London, April 20, 2026 to face a showdown in Parliament over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington. (Alastair Grant, Associated Press)

UNDER FIRE: United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer apologized again Monday for choosing Peter Mandelson as the country’s ambassador to the U.S. but rejected calls to resign over the controversy.

Mandelson was removed from his position in September following public revelations about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, including a note he wrote in 2003 describing him as his “best pal.” But his appointment to the role in the first place has raised questions for Starmer and about the vetting process for Mandelson.

The furor toward the prime minister was stoked by a Guardian report last week that Mandelson failed a confidential security vetting process but was hired anyway.

Starmer said he would have withdrawn the appointment if he knew Mandelson failed the security checks, blaming Foreign Office officials who didn’t tell him about the security concerns.

“At the heart of this, there is also a judgment I made that was wrong,” he said. “I should not have appointed Peter Mandelson.”

“I take responsibility for that decision, and I apologize again to the victims of the pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, who were clearly failed by my decision.”

But Starmer denied misleading Parliament, during an often-heated question-and-answer session that lasted more than two hours. His responses didn’t appear to quell the calls for his departure from many members.

“I’m interested in his judgment,” said Scottish National Party lawmaker Stephen Flynn of Starmer. “Does he believe himself to be gullible, incompetent or both?”

▪ Time: Starmer faces growing calls to resign.

▪ Politico: Starmer’s leadership vacuum threatens to swallow him.

Beef, and midterm desperation: It’s what’s for dinner, The Hill’s Chris Stirewalt writes.

This 4/20, Democrats should take back the lead on legalization, Svante Myrick writes in The Hill.

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Philip, Prince Andrew and Prince Harry, arrive by carriage, on the first day of the Royal Ascot horse racing meeting at Ascot, England, June 17, 2014. (Alastair Grant, Associated Press file)

And finally … The U.K. is honoring and remembering the late Queen Elizabeth II as Tuesday marks what would have been her 100th birthday.

A new charity is being launched to honor her life, with the U.K. government providing a one-time payment of 40 million pounds to establish it, the BBC reported. King Charles III will be the patron of the charity, known as the Queen Elizabeth Trust.

The trust will focus on restoring shared spaces in communities, reflecting Elizabeth’s commitment to public service, the outlet reported.

Charles also marked the anniversary of his mother’s birth in a televised address, saying she shaped the world and touched many people’s lives.

“Millions will remember her for moments of national significance; many others for a fleeting personal encounter, a smile, a kind word that lifted spirits, or for that marvelous twinkle of the eye when sharing a marmalade sandwich with Paddington Bear in the final months of her life,” he said.

The royal family will also visit to the British Museum on Tuesday to view the final designs for a national memorial to her in London’s St. James’s Park, Reuters reported.

Elizabeth served for longer than any British monarch in history, leading her country for 70 years until her death in 2022.

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