Rep. Donalds to Newsmax: Lawmakers Deserve Due Process

Florida Republican Byron Donalds drew a line in the sand Friday night, telling Newsmax that no member of Congress should be expelled without a full Ethics Committee investigation — even when the allegations are serious.

The comments came as Reps. Nancy Mace and Lauren Boebert have called for the expulsion of Rep. Cory Mills over abuse allegations. Donalds called the accusations against Mills "damning" and "very concerning," but insisted that due process must run its course before any vote to remove a sitting lawmaker.

Donalds pointed to the case of former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who faced an Ethics Committee hearing before resigning. He argued the same standard should apply to Mills and anyone else facing expulsion proceedings.

"What needs to happen here is that the Ethics Committee has to come forward with their report," Donalds said. "So that way whether Representative Mills or any other member had the ability to have their due process heard on these matters, that that report comes forward."

The remarks highlight a growing tension in the House, where three lawmakers have recently resigned amid misconduct allegations and threats of expulsion. The speed of those resignations has raised questions about whether due process is being shortcut by political pressure.

Donalds also said he would not vote to expel Rep. Ilhan Omar without a full Ethics investigation, reinforcing his position that committee review — not floor speeches — should drive consequences.

The Ethics Committee process is no light undertaking. Donalds noted that members under investigation must hire attorneys and submit to full discovery. "This is not something any member of Congress wants to be going through," he said. "It's not a simple process."

What This Means For You: The debate over congressional expulsions touches directly on how accountability works in government. If lawmakers can be pressured out without formal investigation, the standard for removal becomes political convenience rather than established facts. If the process is too slow, though, serious misconduct goes unaddressed. The balance matters.