Opinion: Is Congress Cleaning House, or Just Sweeping Corruption Under the Rug?

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The legislative branch may not know how to get much done these days, but it is certainly expert in choreographing the appearance of progress—especially if you don’t look too closely.

Over the past several days, https://www.thedailybeast.com/sorry-dem-star-eric-swalwell-suspends-california-gubernatorial-campaign-after-vile-sex-claims/" rel="" target="_self" title="https://www.thedailybeast.com/sorry-dem-star-eric-swalwell-suspends-california-gubernatorial-campaign-after-vile-sex-claims/">as sexual abuse allegations surrounding Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell have forced him out of the California governor’s race–and, last night, led to his resignation from Congress entirely amid bipartisan threats of expulsion—there has been renewed scrutiny on congressional misconduct. https://www.thedailybeast.com/maga-rep-tony-gonzales-humiliated-by-another-sordid-sex-scandal/" rel="" target="_self" title="https://www.thedailybeast.com/maga-rep-tony-gonzales-humiliated-by-another-sordid-sex-scandal/">GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales also just announced his resignation on similar grounds.

And members in both parties are openly floating additional expulsion votes for those who refuse to step down—other scandal-plagued congressional figures like Florida Reps.

Cory Mills and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick have come into focus for activities ranging https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/south-florida-congresswoman-charged-stealing-5-million-fema-funds-and-making-illegal" rel="" target="_self" title="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/south-florida-congresswoman-charged-stealing-5-million-fema-funds-and-making-illegal">from fraud to revenge porn.

Many are throwing around cheesy puns about https://x.com/nancymace/status/2043375421366972729?s=46" rel="" target="_self" title="https://x.com/nancymace/status/2043375421366972729?s=46">“cleaning House,” which probably tells you all you need to know about how seriously they’re taking the issue.

Yes, on its face, this moment presents as a reset, a rare moment of cross-party alignment that suggests the https://news.gallup.com/poll/1600/congress-public.aspx" rel="" target="_self" title="https://news.gallup.com/poll/1600/congress-public.aspx">deeply unpopular institution may be willing to hold itself accountable.

The House of Representatives has expelled https://punchbowl.news/article/house/expulsion-house/" rel="" target="_self" title="https://punchbowl.news/article/house/expulsion-house/">just six members in its 237 years of existence.

Half of those were in 1861 for supporting or joining the Confederacy.

In 1980 and 2002, respectively, Reps.

Michael Myers and James Traficant were expelled for bribery-related charges, and in 2023 https://www.thedailybeast.com/george-santos-sobs-as-he-learns-fate-in-corruption-case/" rel="" target="_self" title="https://www.thedailybeast.com/george-santos-sobs-as-he-learns-fate-in-corruption-case/">fraudster George Santos was expelled after being indicted on 23 counts, including money laundering, wire fraud, and stealing public funds.

That, all of a sudden, members have been proposing nearly doubling this number in one fell swoop would seem to be an extreme measure.

But upon closer inspection, it seems more like a cast of seasoned political players scapegoating a few headline-grabbing bad actors to stem further scrutiny into the body as a whole.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/is-congress-cleaning-house-or-just-sweeping-corruption-under-the-rug/">Read more at The Daily Beast.