Eric Swalwell Is Gone—Time for Cory Mills to Follow Him Out
The U.S. Congress has a long way to go toward rebuilding trust with a furious public.
Earlier this month, Americans across the political spectrum, including this author, called for the resignation or expulsion of now-former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-California). Swalwell resigned on April 14.
The Swalwell collapse may’ve felt sudden to much of the American public, but what quickly emerged from insiders and colleagues was a total lack of surprise. Swalwell stands accused of drugging and assaulting women, including rape. A political culture of secrecy protected him for many years. Colleagues may not have known the worst of his offenses, but they knew enough to get him out well before 2026.
Fast-forward to today, and we’re now down three members of Congress.
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Florida, resigned Tuesday. She was indicted on charges of stealing millions of dollars in federal relief funds and using some of it in support of her own congressional campaign. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, resigned the same day as Swalwell. He had already admitted to having an affair with a staffer who later committed suicide and stood accused by at least one additional staffer of sending her sexually explicit texts, as reported by NBC News.
A fourth member, Rep. Cory Mills (R-Florida), should follow them out the door or be expelled. Last year, the House Ethics Committee. Per Fox News, “Mills faces allegations of domestic abuse from an incident in February 2025 and a separate case of blackmail from July that same year, where he allegedly threatened to release explicit images of a romantic partner.” A Washington Post report on police footage following a 911 call found that “the woman had shown [officer Richard] Mazloom bruises on her arms and marks on her face.”
Like the calls for Swalwell’s resignation, the demand for Mills to see himself out is bipartisan. The resolution for Mills’ expulsion was introduced by a member of his own party, right-wing firebrand Rep. Nancy Mace (R-South Carolina).
In an era of hyperpartisanship, the locked arms across party lines to see corrupt and predatory members out is a welcome reprieve. Faith in American institutions is at an all-time low, and every member shown the door by their own colleagues serves as a building block toward restoring public trust.
It’s true that every American is and should always be innocent until proven guilty as a matter of law. But serving as a member of U.S. Congress is a job, not a right. Members can be fired.
Americans deserve a Congress that holds itself to the highest standards, because the body will never be effective so long as the chamber remains riddled with corruption, secrecy and abuse.
Mills represents an easy case. Get him out.