I had to laugh when I read this headline from the Babylon Bee, the conservative satire site: “With Swalwell Resigning, Just 534 Perverts Left In Congress.”

It’s funny (and sad) because there is some truth to it. 

On April 13, two members of Congress – Reps. Eric Swalwell, a Democrat from California, and Tony Gonzales, a Republican from Texas, said they’d be resigning, heading off ethics probes and possible expulsion. Both were embroiled in sexually related scandals.

They’re not the only alleged misbehaving lawmakers. Plenty of others in recent years have brought embarrassment and controversy to their office.

Why can't we elect better people to Congress?

Remember George Santos, the one who made up his résumé? The former New York Republican congressman was expelled from the House in late 2023 (a rare event) after a damning ethics probe and federal criminal charges. He was later convicted and sentenced – but then pardoned by President Donald Trump in 2025. 

And there was the........

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