Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said Monday that she believes more members of Congress are guilty of conduct similar to what Reps. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) and Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) have been accused of, suggesting the alleged misconduct is more widespread than just these two cases.
Both Gonzales and Swalwell announced their resignations from the House on Monday amid separate allegations of sexual misconduct that triggered investigations by the House Ethics Committee. The California Democrat ended his gubernatorial campaign on Sunday after accusations surfaced, while the Texas Republican admitted to an affair with his district director who later died by suicide.
Greene, who left Congress in January after two terms, made the comments during an interview on CNN's "The Source" with host Kaitlan Collins. She appeared alongside Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who joined her on the program.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive Democrats largely welcomed the resignations, with some arguing they did not go far enough. Rep. Ro Khanna, who appeared alongside Greene on CNN, said both outgoing lawmakers "did despicable things" and indicated he would have voted to expel them if given the opportunity.
"What Representative Swalwell did and what Representative Gonzales did is disgusting," the California Democrat said. "I think they should be expelled from Congress."
Some progressive commentators noted that the allegations against Swalwell, particularly the detailed account in the San Francisco Chronicle of a former aide accusing him of sexual assault, represented conduct far beyond what had previously been reported about his "mistakes in judgment." Other Democrats called for stronger ethics enforcement in Congress to prevent future misconduct.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative Republicans largely condemned the conduct alleged against both lawmakers, with some using the moment to call for broader ethics reform in Congress. Greene's suggestion that more lawmakers may be engaged in similar behavior reflected a view among some conservatives that the culture in Congress needs fundamental change.
Greene suggested the simultaneous resignations may have been the result of negotiations between House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), describing what she called a potential "one-for-one resignation" deal. Some conservative commentators echoed this skepticism, questioning why both resignations came on the same day.
Other Republican lawmakers who spoke publicly about the situation expressed relief that the House would not be dealing with these controversies during critical legislative work. Several noted that both cases underscored the need for robust ethics investigations and potential rule changes.
What the Numbers Show
The House Ethics Committee has opened separate investigations into both Gonzales and Swalwell. These are the first dual ethics investigations resulting in simultaneous resignations of House members from opposite parties in recent memory.
Swalwell served as a U.S. representative since 2013 and was running for governor of California before ending his campaign on Sunday. Gonzales served three terms representing Texas's 23rd Congressional District.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported detailed accusations from a former Swalwell aide, while CNN reported on three women making separate allegations of sexual misconduct against the California Democrat. Swalwell acknowledged prior "mistakes in judgment" but maintained he would fight what he called false allegations.
For Gonzales, the San Antonio Express-News reported earlier this year that he had an affair with district director Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, who died by suicide. Text messages provided to media outlets appeared to show Gonzales requesting sexual material from Santos-Aviles, who expressed concerns about his requests.
The Bottom Line
The dual resignations mark an unusual moment in congressional history, with two House members from opposite parties leaving office within hours of each other over misconduct allegations. Greene's assertion that similar conduct may be more prevalent in Congress reflects broader concerns about accountability and culture in the legislative branch.
The House Ethics Committee's investigations into both cases will continue despite the resignations, as committees have jurisdiction over former members for conduct while in office. Both lawmakers faced potential expulsion proceedings had they not resigned.
Speaker Johnson and Minority Leader Jeffries have not publicly addressed Greene's suggestion of a coordinated resignation agreement. The White House has not commented on either lawmaker's departure. What remains unclear is whether the pair of high-profile resignations will prompt broader discussions about congressional ethics reform or changes to how the House handles misconduct allegations against its members.