Things are getting ugly on Capitol Hill, and not in the usual political theater kind of way. Representative Anna Paulina Luna has come out swinging, announcing she will file a motion to expel Eric Swalwell after multiple former staffers accused him of se*ual assault. That’s not a quiet ethics complaint or a strongly worded letter. That’s a direct move to kick a sitting member of Congress out the door.
Luna didn’t hedge her words, either. She flat-out said she won’t serve alongside what she called “se*ual deviants,” and she’s calling on any alleged victims to come forward directly to her office. That’s a bold move, especially in a town where these situations are usually handled behind closed doors with carefully crafted statements designed to offend absolutely no one. Luna clearly isn’t interested in playing that game.
Now here’s where it gets politically interesting. A motion to expel is considered privileged in the House, meaning Luna can force a vote. No dodging, no burying it in committee, no pretending it will just go away. Every member will have to go on record. That’s the kind of pressure that makes leadership very uncomfortable, especially for Democrats who are already dealing with the fallout.
And there is plenty of fallout. Even members of Swalwell’s own party are starting to distance themselves. Hakeem Jeffries called the accusations “incredibly disturbing” and urged Swalwell to end his campaign for governor. California Governor Gavin Newsom also weighed in, saying the allegations must be taken seriously. When your own side starts using language like that, it’s not exactly a sign of confidence.
Meanwhile, Swalwell is denying everything, saying the allegations are “flat false” and promising to fight them. That’s expected. Nobody in his position is going to quietly pack up and leave. But the timing couldn’t be worse, given he’s been a leading Democratic contender in the race for governor of California.
Luna also pointed out something that a lot of people have been thinking but not saying out loud. If these allegations are serious enough to derail a gubernatorial campaign, why is it acceptable for him to remain in Congress? That’s a fair question, and it’s one that’s about to be tested in a very public way.
Adding even more fuel to the fire, Luna says another expulsion vote could be coming, this time targeting Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick over allegations involving millions in federal funds. That means Congress could be staring down multiple high-profile accountability votes in the same week.
At the end of the day, this is shaping up to be a moment where lawmakers can’t hide behind vague statements or carefully managed press releases. They’re going to have to vote, yes or no. And the public is going to be watching exactly who decides to stand where.
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