On April 13, 2026, two members of Congress announced their resignations within hours of each other — not out of conscience, but because expulsion votes were already written and the vote counts were there. U.S. Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell (CA-14) faces multiple allegations of sexual assault and harassment from former staffers, with the Manhattan District Attorney opening a criminal investigation. U.S. Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales (TX-23) admitted to an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide, and a second former staffer surfaced with explicit text messages. The House Ethics Committee opened investigations into both men within days.

Call it what it was: accountability without the vote. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy admitted that "every member in Congress knows not to let any young staffer get around Swalwell." That is not a defense of an institution. That is a confession about one. U.S. Republican Rep. Nancy Mace (SC-1) summed up the moment: "Two down. Two to go," meaning U.S. Democrat Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20) and U.S. Republican Rep. Cory Mills (FL-7), are still seated under their own ethics........

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