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Three US lawmakers have resigned from Congress within a week, throwing the House into turmoil and prompting rare bipartisan calls for greater accountability over sexual misconduct and ethical lapses.

Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell of California announced his resignation on Monday after multiple women accused him of sexual assault or misconduct. Hours later, Republican Representative Tony Gonzales of Texas said he would step down after acknowledging an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide. On Tuesday, Democratic Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida resigned ahead of a House Ethics Committee hearing over alleged campaign finance violations.

The resignations have triggered an unusual wave of bipartisan criticism, with lawmakers from both parties calling for stricter scrutiny of members' behavior.

Coverage Comparison

Reports across Al Jazeera, France 24, The Guardian, and the South China Morning Post consistently confirm the resignations of Swalwell and Gonzales, both announced on the same day. The Guardian and France 24 also reported that the House Ethics Committee had opened an investigation into Swalwell, while the South China Morning Post and The Guardian covered Cherfilus-McCormick's resignation and her federal indictment.

While all sources agree on the core facts, their framing differs. Al Jazeera emphasized bipartisan calls for accountability, quoting lawmakers from across the political spectrum. France 24 and The Guardian highlighted the broader context of scandals engulfing Congress, with The Guardian using more critical language such as "furor" and "pressure." The South China Morning Post focused narrowly on Cherfilus-McCormick's case, describing it as an "ethics scandal."

One discrepancy: The Guardian's earlier report said Gonzales's affair involved a staffer who died by suicide, while a later France 24 report specified death by self-immolation. The cause of death has not been independently confirmed by all outlets.

Key Claims

  • Swalwell's resignation amid sexual misconduct allegations: According to multiple sources, including Al Jazeera, France 24, and The Guardian, Swalwell resigned after four women accused him of sexual assault or unwanted sexual messages. The San Francisco Chronicle and CNN reported allegations from a former staffer who said Swalwell assaulted her twice while she was intoxicated, and three other women accused him of sending explicit photos or messages. Swalwell has denied the allegations, calling them "serious false allegations."
  • House Ethics Committee investigation into Swalwell: The Guardian and France 24 reported that the bipartisan committee opened an investigation into whether Swalwell engaged in sexual misconduct, including toward an employee under his supervision.
  • Gonzales's admission of affair: France 24 and The Guardian reported that Gonzales admitted to an extramarital affair with an aide who later died by suicide. His resignation statement on X read: "There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all."
  • Calls for expulsion of other lawmakers: Multiple sources reported that lawmakers, including Democratic Rep. Nydia Velazquez and Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, called for the expulsion of Swalwell, Gonzales, Cory Mills ), and Cherfilus-McCormick. Expulsion requires a two-thirds majority, a threshold met only six times in the House's 237-year history.
  • Cherfilus-McCormick's resignation amid campaign finance allegations: The South China Morning Post and The Guardian reported that she resigned after being indicted for allegedly funneling more than $5 million in federal disaster funds from her company into her 2021 campaign. She pleaded not guilty and called the ethics process "a witch hunt."