Republican Moves to EXPEL Democrat After Shocking Claims

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Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna is moving to expel Democrat Eric Swalwell from Congress following allegations of sexual assault and misconduct by four women, a dramatic escalation that exposes Washington’s selective outrage over accusations depending on which party holds power.

Story Snapshot

Luna announced plans to file expulsion motion against Swalwell after sexual assault allegations emerged from former staffer and misconduct claims from three other women
Swalwell faces potential criminal investigation while running for California governor, with allegations including assaults when victim was too intoxicated to consent
Expulsion requires two-thirds House vote, a penalty invoked only six times in U.S. history, making success unlikely despite Republican majority
Move highlights partisan divide over accountability, with conservatives questioning whether Democrats will apply their own “believe all accusers” standard

Congressional Expulsion Motion Filed

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna announced on April 11, 2026, her intention to file a motion expelling Rep. Eric Swalwell from the U.S. House of Representatives. The Florida Republican’s declaration followed reports from The San Francisco Chronicle and CNN detailing sexual assault and misconduct allegations from four women. Luna’s announcement on X emphasized Congress’s responsibility to address serious criminal accusations against sitting members. The timing coincides with Swalwell’s campaign for California governor, adding electoral consequences to potential congressional penalties. Expulsion represents the harshest punishment available to the House, reserved historically for treason and bribery cases.

Multiple Assault and Misconduct Allegations Surface

The San Francisco Chronicle published allegations from a former Swalwell staffer claiming two sexual assaults occurred when she was too intoxicated to provide consent. CNN subsequently reported three additional women accused the California Democrat of sending inappropriate messages and unsolicited nude photographs. These claims emerged publicly on April 10, 2026, triggering immediate political fallout. The allegations differ substantially from previous controversies involving Swalwell, including his 2020 connection to suspected Chinese intelligence operative Fang Fang. Criminal-level assault accusations carry more severe legal and political weight than prior scandals, potentially triggering formal investigations beyond congressional ethics reviews.

Historical Rarity of Congressional Expulsion

Expulsion from Congress has occurred only six times in American history, with most cases involving Confederate sympathizers during the Civil War. Modern precedent includes Rep. Michael Myers in 1980 for bribery-related crimes. The penalty requires a two-thirds majority vote in the House, meaning 290 members must support removal. Republicans currently control the chamber but lack sufficient votes without significant Democratic support. This high threshold makes successful expulsion unlikely in the polarized current environment, regardless of allegation severity. Luna’s parallel efforts to expel Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick suggest a broader Republican strategy to challenge Democratic members through ethics accountability measures.

Political and Electoral Ramifications

Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign faces immediate damage from the allegations, with voters likely questioning his fitness for higher office. The controversy revives broader concerns about how Washington insiders protect their own while ordinary Americans face swift consequences for similar accusations. Democrats who championed “believe all accusers” during Supreme Court confirmations now confront demands to apply that standard to their own members. This situation exposes the fundamental hypocrisy many Americans see in both parties, where principles shift based on political convenience rather than consistent values. Whether justice for accusers matters more than party loyalty remains the central question neither side wants to answer honestly.

The absence of public response from Swalwell or Democratic leadership as of April 11 raises additional concerns about transparency and accountability. House ethics procedures typically move slowly, allowing members to remain in office during investigations. Criminal probes by Manhattan District Attorney’s office could proceed independently of congressional action. The Republican majority controls committee assignments and floor scheduling, giving them leverage to force votes or public hearings. However, Democrats retain sufficient numbers to block expulsion if they vote as a unified bloc, creating a test of whether accusations alone warrant removal absent criminal convictions.