Rep. Anna Paulina Luna is leading calls to expel two Democratic lawmakers — Eric Swalwell and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick — over reports of sexual assault and the misuse of campaign funds.
Ms. Luna, Florida Republican, said Saturday she would file a motion to boot Mr. Swalwell from office due to the Californian’s rape allegations.
“I am filing a motion to expel Eric Swalwell from Congress,” she wrote on social media, calling for him to resign or else she will advance the proposal next week.
Mr. Swalwell, a leading gubernatorial candidate in California, was accused of sexually assaulting a former staffer twice when she was too intoxicated to consent, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday. Three additional women said the lawmaker engaged in unconsensual sex or messaged them inappropriately, including sending nudes, CNN reported.
Ms. Luna encouraged those who said they are his victims to contact her office, saying, “All victims deserve to be heard.”
“I will be bringing a vote to expel Rep. Swalwell from Congress next week. Will Democrats vote to protect this corruption? I am not going to serve with these sexual deviants; that is not what Congress is about,” she added.
Prominent party leaders, such as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, called for investigations into the allegations, while powerful labor unions and other allies have suspended their support.
Mr. Swalwell described the accusations as “absolutely false.”
“They did not happen,” he said Friday. “They have never happened, and I will fight them with everything that I have. They also come on the eve of an election where I have been the front-runner candidate for governor in California.”
Ms. Luna is not buying into his denial.
“There are many young women over the last few months that have come forward about multiple MALE members of Congress, both Democrat and Republican, and the leadership on both sides has done nothing. I am not going to act like it is fine. This is NOT okay,” she said. “Let’s also not forget about the theft issue with a female member. I will be bringing forward multiple privileged disciplinary motions next week. Congress needs a hard reset.”
She referenced the House Ethics Committee finding that Ms. Cherfilus-McCormick committed dozens of ethics violations related to campaign finance, particularly inflating her campaign’s strength through illicit transfers.
Ms. Luna threatened to have the Florida Democrat expelled.
Expulsion is the most severe form of congressional discipline, needing a two-thirds vote. The action is rare, generally reserved for serious, often criminal, offenses after a member has been seated.
