The Daily A Week of Scandal, Reckoning and Resignations in Congress
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Apr 17, 2026 
Michael Gold, a New York Times congressional correspondent, unpacks a chaotic week on Capitol Hill. He follows misconduct allegations, ethics fights, and the scramble around possible historic removals. George Santos reshapes the playbook. Tony Gonzales reveals the politics of discipline. Eric Swalwell’s fall turns swift and dramatic. Two resignations change everything.
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George Santos Proved The House Can Expel Quickly
- Michael Gold says George Santos showed the House can move fast when it decides misconduct is intolerable.
- An ethics probe finished unusually quickly, then a two-thirds vote expelled Santos over fraud evidence including Botox and OnlyFans spending.
Tony Gonzalez Put Politics Inside Ethics Enforcement
- Tony Gonzalez's case exposed how ethics enforcement can bend around political math as much as principle.
- He admitted violating the 2018 staff relationship ban, but Mike Johnson favored the slow ethics route while protecting a razor-thin House majority.
Eric Swalwell's Rise Collapsed After Misconduct Claims
- Eric Swalwell rose from a Bay Area House member to impeachment manager, MSNBC regular, and California governor frontrunner before misconduct allegations upended him.
- Reports accused him of assaulting a former aide and harassing other women; he denied everything but rapidly lost endorsements and support.