Two embattled members of the U.S. House of Representatives announced plans to leave Congress voluntarily on Monday, choosing to exit rather than risk formal expulsion proceedings, according to reporting by Axios.
The departures mark a significant moment in what Axios describes as a seemingly endless cascade of congressional scandals. However, the exits may not bring the broader ethics crisis to a close.
More scrutiny ahead
At least two additional lawmakers remain under serious scrutiny from the House Ethics Committee, according to Axios, meaning the threat of expulsion proceedings continues to loom over the chamber.
The House Ethics Committee has faced criticism from some members of Congress for what they describe as a slow-moving investigative process. Frustrated by the pace of the panel's work, some lawmakers have reportedly threatened to bypass the committee and force votes directly, according to the report.
A pattern of departures under pressure
The decision by the two members to leave voluntarily reflects a calculation that departure on their own terms is preferable to the politically damaging spectacle of an expulsion vote on the House floor. Expulsion from Congress requires a two-thirds supermajority vote and is among the most severe actions the chamber can take against one of its own members.
Congressional ethics investigations have historically moved slowly, and the committee's findings are not always made public in full. That dynamic has drawn criticism from reform advocates and some lawmakers who argue the process lacks transparency and urgency.
Pressure on the Ethics Committee
The situation has intensified pressure on House leadership to demonstrate accountability within the chamber. Some members have argued that allowing the Ethics Committee to operate on its own timeline is insufficient when public confidence in Congress is already strained.
The full scope of the ongoing investigations, the identities of all lawmakers under review, and the timeline for any further action by the Ethics Committee were not fully detailed in the Axios report at the time of publication.
Congress has seen a small number of expulsion votes in its history, with most members facing serious misconduct charges opting to resign before a full floor vote takes place - a pattern the latest departures appear to follow.
