A Disaster in the House

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It is about time that the House of Representatives began cleaning house (no pun intended) from those who have besmirched the reputation many of us have held for the integrity expected from the Members of Congress. The most recent resignations are from Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Tony Gonzalez (R-TX) for their sexual and other indiscretions.

But there are more Members who are presently under investigation.

 Key Details on Investigations (As of April 2026):

• Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL): A House Ethics Committee panel found her guilty of 25 of 27 ethics counts, including misuse of campaign funds and potential fraudulent activity.
• Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN): Implicated in allegations involving a fraudulent scheme regarding a $1 million earmark for a non-existent clinic.
• George Santos (Former R-NY): Previously charged in 2023 by the Department of Justice for fraud, money laundering, and theft of public funds and was expelled.

There have been others in the recent past who were under the same scrutiny, but ultimately left the Congress either by retirement, death  or election loss before any investigation was completed. The process itself seems to be broken since it moves at a snail’s pace because a quick expulsion would result in a loss of votes for months, leaving one party with less potential influence and power.

So, who is left under-served by this inaction? Only the people Congress is supposed represents. Us, the American people.

And then, once a Member leaves prior to the end of his or her term, the process to replace takes months, leaving a Congressional district unrepresented while important matters are discussed and decided. This is not what the Founders had intended.

However, the Seventeenth Amendment provides that State Governors have the authority to appoint an immediate replacement should a vacancy occur in the Senate should a Senator leave prior to his term. Then, at the next bi-annual Federal election, the PEOPLE will vote who will complete the remaining term until the next regular election.

Rather than leaving a district without a Representative when a vacancy occurs, a Constitutional Amendment should be written and passed to allow the same process for vacancies in the House. Since all Members are subject to the bi-annual election, the people will decide in a timely manner their Representatives.

Certainly, sweeping changes are necessary in the House of Representatives in order to regain and reaffirm the trust the People have in the integrity of their Representatives. Otherwise, continued  high levels of dissatisfaction and distrust, often holding it in low esteem, will be held by Americans  of all political persuasions.

It is time to clean it up and fix it before all trust is lost.