On Monday, Representative Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat, announced his resignation from Congress amid multiple allegations of sexual misconduct that have derailed his campaign to become governor of California.
Following his decision to halt his gubernatorial campaign, Swalwell faced increasing bipartisan pressure to resign or risk a vote for expulsion. In a statement released on social media, he expressed remorse for past mistakes that affected his family, team, and constituents. “I will fight the serious false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make,” he stated.
In light of potential removal from Congress, Swalwell remarked, “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.” His resignation follows an announcement from the House ethics committee, which revealed it had initiated an investigation into the allegations against him.
The ethics committee stated it would examine accusations that Swalwell engaged in sexual misconduct, including incidents involving an employee under his supervision. His campaign for governor, which had shown him narrowly ahead in polls, was suspended after a report from the San Francisco Chronicle detailed claims from a former staff member alleging that Swalwell had assaulted her twice. CNN subsequently reported similar allegations from three other women, who accused him of sending unsolicited explicit messages or images.
Swalwell’s situation is compounded by the possibility of an expulsion vote in the Republican-controlled House, where other lawmakers are also facing scrutiny for various allegations. One prominent case is that of Texas Republican Tony Gonzales, who admitted to having an extramarital affair with a staff member who later committed suicide. Calls for expulsion have also been directed at Florida Republican Cory Mills, facing accusations of ethical violations, and Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who has been indicted for allegedly misappropriating disaster relief funds.
All these lawmakers are currently under investigation by the House ethics committee, which is equally divided between Democrats and Republicans. On Monday, Democratic Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez stated that Swalwell, Gonzales, Cherfilus-McCormick, and Mills should resign, and if they do not, they should be expelled. Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace has also supported the expulsion of these members, emphasizing the need for accountability on social media.
Additionally, Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna announced plans to introduce a resolution for Swalwell’s expulsion, while Democrat Teresa Leger Fernández indicated she would seek to remove Gonzales. Leger Fernández stated, “As I’ve said, Gonzales and Swalwell are not fit to serve in Congress given their sexual transgressions against women who work for them. They should resign or be expelled.”
Arizona Congressman Ruben Gallego, a close friend of Swalwell, issued a statement of support for the ethics investigation and concluded that Swalwell should be expelled. He emphasized his lack of prior knowledge about the allegations against Swalwell and commended the women who came forward for their bravery and the need for justice.
Expulsion of House members is a rare occurrence, requiring a two-thirds majority vote. In history, only six members have been ousted, the most recent being George Santos from New York, who was expelled in 2023 after being found to have misused campaign funds and pleading guilty to various federal fraud charges, although his sentence was later commuted by Donald Trump.
Swalwell’s withdrawal from the gubernatorial race in solidly Democratic California adds complexity to a contest that currently lacks a clear front-runner. Prominent Democratic candidates now include former Congresswoman Katie Porter, billionaire entrepreneur Tom Steyer, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan. On the Republican side, former Fox News host Steve Hilton has received Donald Trump’s endorsement, with Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco as his main challenger.
