Departure Of Swalwell And Gonzales Puts Focus On Other Troubled Lawmakers

It was a bit of resignation Monday this week, as within one hour of each other, California Democrat Congressman Eric Swalwell and Texas Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales announced their resignations. Both resigned amid sexual misconduct allegations.

Swalwell has recently been accused of sexual assault by former staffers, one of which claims she was drugged by Swalwell. At least seven women have come forward with allegations against Swalwell. Gonzales, meanwhile, was already under investigation for affairs with staffers. In one case, a former staffer committed suicide by self-immolation. Gonzales admitted to the affairs, dropping out of his primary race against Brandon Herrera. He capped it with his resignation this week.

While the cases themselves are horrific, if there is a positive, it is that two undeserving members of Congress are facing the music. Something we are not used to seeing in Washington. Now, especially as TMZ moves an office to Washington DC, the focus is now shifting to other scandals and troubles lawmakers face.

Florida Democrat Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and Florida Republican Congressman Cory Mills both have ethics investigations unfolding against them. Surely, there will be countless others that come to the spotlight. But the exits of Swalwell and Gonzales present a unique opportunity to begin cleaning things up.

Former Congressman Bob Livingston says this is a chance to unify the two parties.

"Relations between the two parties are far worse than they ever were back then...I had Democrat friends...but people like Eric Swalwell are the reason, he is a hypocrite and liar," he says.

Swalwell was a champion of the Me-Too movement during the Harvey Weinstein assault case. He, like so many in his party, have championed women's rights and preached about the vitality of respecting women. All to have this kind of thing surface. Swalwell denied any wrongdoing, and even presuming innocence before guilt, the optics are bad.

People in Congress have grown weary of the hypocrisy, which runs rampant in Washington. They want to come together to work on thing instead of bickering over simple, basic things. Exorcising the demons of these two might be the domino that sets off that unification. It is still a difficult task, as Democrats continue sliding farther left, while Republicans remains the same. But admitting and solving the problems is a good first step.

"I think it is appropriate...people have to understand; public service is an open book. If you step out of line, you have to deal with it," says Livingston. "You could be unelected, investigated, or even step down."

It is frustrating too, as Americans, knowing elected officials are living out deviant lifestyles while not doing anything to help us. You know, the people they work for. They cannot pass the SAVE Act or pass DHS funding. But they have time to make rendezvous with their Chinese spy mistress.

The fall of Swalwell and Gonzales could be the beginning of a new era for Congress. The spotlight is on their actions, as people have had enough.