According to CNBC on April 13, U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell of California announced on Monday, April 13 that he will resign from Congress amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
In a statement posted on his social media platform X, Swalwell apologized to his family, staff, and constituents for errors in judgment in his past behavior, while denying some of the more serious allegations against him. He wrote that he would contest the “serious but untrue” accusations, but also acknowledged the need to take responsibility for his mistakes.
He added that continuing to serve under the current circumstances would interfere with the interests of his constituents, and therefore he decided to resign.
Swalwell, 45, entered Congress in 2013. He was once a major contender in the California gubernatorial race and briefly ran for U.S. president in 2019.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN, a former congressional aide accused Swalwell of multiple instances of sexual contact during her employment, including two occasions when she was allegedly too intoxicated to give consent.
Success
You are now signed up for our newsletter
Success
Check your email to complete sign up
CNN also reported that three other women accused Swalwell of various forms of sexual misconduct, including sending unsolicited explicit messages and nude photos.
Swalwell has repeatedly denied all allegations.
Political pressure intensifies, House ethics investigation into Swalwell launched
As the accusations spread, calls within Congress for his resignation or even expulsion quickly increased. The House Ethics Committee announced on Monday that it has opened an investigation into his conduct.
Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna introduced a resolution to expel Swalwell.
Democratic Representative Teresa Leger Fernández said she would support the expulsion motion and noted she is also concerned about a separate investigation involving Republican Representative Tony Gonzales. Gonzales had been accused of having an extramarital relationship with a staff member who later died by suicide, though he denies any wrongdoing.
According to the Associated Press, Swalwell first announced he would suspend his campaign for California governor, then confirmed he would resign from Congress, further shaking an already competitive race.
In his statement, he emphasized that stepping down was intended to prevent personal matters from affecting his duties as a representative, though he did not specify an exact resignation date.
With Swalwell exiting the race, the redistribution of his supporters has become a key variable. Democratic candidates including Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, and Antonio Villaraigosa are competing to capture his share of the vote.
California uses a “top-two” primary system, with voting scheduled for early June. The field remains highly fragmented. Although Swalwell has withdrawn, his name will still appear on the ballot.
The report notes that the incident has transformed Swalwell from a nationally known congressman—and one of the impeachment managers in the Trump case—into a central figure in a major controversy.
