Embattled Rep. Swalwell announces resignation from Congress

Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell on Monday night announced his intention to resign from Congress after several women alleged that he had engaged in sexual misconduct. In a statement posted online, Swalwell said his resignation was motivated in part by a looming expulsion vote planned by other House members. Swalwell accused those members of trying to force him out of Congress without due process, but added that he needed to resign to own up to unspecified mistakes in judgment that he’d made in the past. He continued to deny the allegations of sexual misconduct. 

His announcement came after he dropped out of the race for California governor on Sunday. He wrote on social media that he had suspended his campaign, but he still maintained that the allegations were false. Swalwell said he would continue to fight against them. The allegations led Democrats and Republicans alike to call for him not only to get out of the governor’s race, but also to resign from Congress.

Polls previously showed Swalwell as one of the top contenders in the governor’s election race. In California, all candidates run on the same primary ballot regardless of party, and the top two finishers advance to the general election. The primary election is June 2, with early voting set to begin May 4.

What are the accusations that Swalwell has denied? A former staffer of Swalwell’s alleged in a San Francisco Chronicle article published Friday that he sexually assaulted her twice. The Chronicle reviewed text messages, medical records, and interviewed her boyfriend at the time to corroborate her story.

Later on Friday, CNN reported sexual misconduct allegations from four women against Swalwell. The news site said it interviewed the women’s families and friends and reviewed text message exchanges to back up their stories.

Who had called for Swalwell to be ousted from the House? Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., had said that Swalwell should resign and urged the House Ethics Committee to investigate the allegations. Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., said that if these allegations were true, Swalwell violated the House ethics rules barring representatives from having sex with a subordinate.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said she planned to file a motion to expel Swalwell from the House. It would have needed a two-thirds vote in favor to pass. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, D-N.M., said they would support Luna’s motion.

What other investigations are looking into Swalwell? The Department of Homeland Security said Sunday that it was investigating allegations that Swalwell hired a nanny who was not legally authorized to work in the United States. 

Dig deeper: Read Elizabeth Black’s report on why U.S. House member Tony Gonzales dropped out of his reelection campaign in Texas.