California Rep. Swalwell Resigns Amid Sexual Assault Allegations
Rep. Eric Swalwell announces resignation from Congress following sexual assault allegations, as colleagues call for expulsion votes against multiple House members.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — California Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell announced Monday evening that he plans to resign from Congress, just one day after suspending his gubernatorial campaign over allegations of sexual assault.
“I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members,” Swalwell wrote in a statement on X. “Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But it’s also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress.”
Congressional Response
New Mexico Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, called the reports regarding Swalwell “horrific” in a statement released Monday.
“Rep. Swalwell’s actions would not be tolerated in any place of work, and the United States Congress should be no different,” Fernández wrote. “We must believe and support survivors, and hold perpetrators accountable.”
Fernández demanded an immediate investigation and emphasized that “staffers and interns who courageously came forward must be listened to and kept safe.”
Calls for Additional Expulsions
The debate over congressional expulsions has expanded beyond Swalwell to include other House members facing ethics investigations. Fernández issued a separate statement calling for Texas Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales to also leave Congress immediately.
The House Ethics Committee is investigating Gonzales for allegations he engaged “in sexual misconduct towards an individual employed in his congressional office,” according to committee statements.
“Reps. Gonzales and Swalwell are not fit to serve. They must resign. If they do not, I will vote to expel them,” Fernández wrote.
Florida Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna expressed support for expulsion efforts in a social media post, writing that she “will be supporting this resolution!”
Expulsion Process
Any expulsion vote in the House of Representatives would require support from two-thirds of the chamber to succeed. The House Ethics Committee announced Monday afternoon that its members had begun reviewing the cases, though the committee’s full statement was not included in available materials.
Swalwell’s resignation announcement comes as congressional leadership faces mounting pressure to address allegations of misconduct among sitting members. The congressman’s decision to step down preempts what could have been a contentious expulsion vote.
The timing of Swalwell’s announcement follows his withdrawal from California’s gubernatorial race on Sunday, when the sexual assault allegations first became public through media reports.
