House lawmakers are preparing for what could be a second wave of expulsions, with both parties eyeing plans to remove Florida Reps. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D) and Cory Mills (R), who are each accused of violating campaign finance laws among other offenses.
The Ethics Committee is scheduled to make its disciplinary recommendations Tuesday in the case of Cherfilus-McCormick, who is accused of stealing millions of dollars in Federal Emergency Management Agency funds to help finance her campaign. The Justice Department filed federal charges against her last November, and an Ethics subcommittee earlier this month found she violated 25 rules of congressional standards.
Cherfilus-McCormick has denied any wrongdoing, characterizing the charges as a partisan witch hunt by the Trump administration. The case marks the first major test of expulsion proceedings since former Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) and Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) avoided removal only by resigning their seats in the face of allegations of sexual misconduct with staffers.
What the Left Is Saying
Democrats have largely coalesced around supporting Cherfilus-McCormick's expulsion if the Ethics Committee recommends it, while simultaneously demanding that Republican Cory Mills face similar consequences.
Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus, said the Ethics Committee has sufficient material to act on Cherfilus-McCormick and needs to move quickly. "We're moving if the Ethics Committee brings it to the floor," she said.
However, Leger Fernández has also been pressing for expedited action on Mills. "Why the hell are we're waiting so long for Cory Mills?" she asked. "This is sexual violence he's been accused of, and there seem to be incredibly credible reports. Let's get that before us."
Another Democratic lawmaker, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, confirmed the party would support expulsion if the Ethics Committee brings it to the floor.
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said he trusts the Ethics Committee process and will react when recommendations are released, while noting Democrats want parity in how both parties handle their accused members.
What the Right Is Saying
Republicans have indicated strong support for removing Cherfilus-McCormick, with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) saying he believes there will be consensus in the body for her expulsion.
"The facts are indisputable at this point, and so I believe it'll be the consensus of this body that she should be expelled," Johnson told reporters this week.
Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) has already filed his expulsion resolution against Cherfilus-McCormick. The speaker was less committal about Mills, saying only that he wanted to see more details from the Ethics investigation.
On the Democratic side, some Republicans have also expressed concerns about Mills. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) said the allegations of assaulting a woman are "pretty upsetting." Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), a longtime advocate for abused women, has been pushing a resolution to censure Mills and has called for him to resign or be expelled.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), who helped lead the charge to remove Swalwell and Gonzales before they resigned, said both Cherfilus-McCormick and Mills should be removed if the Ethics Committee finds violations. "If they're doing this s---, then they need to go," she said.
What the Numbers Show
The Ethics subcommittee found that Cherfilus-McCormick violated 25 rules of congressional standards. The Justice Department filed federal charges against her last November related to the alleged theft of FEMA funds.
The investigation into Cherfilus-McCormick formally launched in December 2023, while the probe into Mills was initiated in November 2025 — creating different timelines for potential expulsion votes.
The House currently operates with razor-thin margins, making each vote consequential. The previous expulsions of Swalwell and Gonzales were paired together, reflecting a political dynamic where neither party wants to advantage the other by expelling only one of their own.
Ethics Committee Chair Rep. Michael Guest (R-Miss.) defended the panel's pace, noting that complex investigations can take months or years to complete. He declined to comment on the timeline for the Mills investigation.
The Bottom Line
The Ethics Committee's recommendations Tuesday will determine whether Cherfilus-McCormick faces a floor vote on expulsion. If she is expelled, Democrats are signaling they will demand equal treatment for Mills, whose investigation remains ongoing.
The political calculus centers on parity — ensuring that both parties hold their own members accountable in similar circumstances. The timing discrepancy between the two cases creates a dilemma for leadership on both sides.
Lawmakers from both parties have expressed frustration with the Ethics process speed, with some calling for reforms to expedite investigations. The outcome of these cases could set a precedent for how the House handles member discipline going forward.