Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) announced his resignation from Congress on Monday, effective immediately, amidst a growing number of sexual misconduct allegations and the initiation of a formal House Ethics Committee inquiry into his conduct. The seven-term House member, who represented California’s 14th District, had previously positioned himself as a prominent progressive voice and was once considered a potential gubernatorial candidate.
"I support the ethics committee’s investigation and believe Eric Swalwell is no longer fit to be a Member of Congress. I want to be clear: I had no knowledge of the allegations of assault, harassment, and predatory behavior against Eric Swalwell," Senator Ruben Gallego, Arizona.
The decision to resign came hours after the House Ethics Committee publicly confirmed it had launched an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against Swalwell. The committee's chairman, Representative Michael Guest (R-MS), and ranking member, Representative Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), issued a joint statement regarding the probe. "The Committee, pursuant to Committee Rule 18(a), has begun an investigation and will gather additional information regarding the allegations that Representative Eric Swalwell violated the Code of Official Conduct or any law, rule, regulation, or other applicable standard of conduct in the performance of his duties or the discharge of his responsibilities, with respect to allegations that he may have engaged in sexual misconduct, including towards an employee working under his supervision," the statement read. The committee emphasized that the investigation itself does not indicate a violation has occurred.
Four women have publicly accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct and sexual assault, with allegations first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN. The most serious accusation detailed involves an incident in 2024, where a former staffer alleged Swalwell raped her after a night of heavy drinking. She told CNN that she was "heavily intoxicated," physically injured, and repeatedly told him to stop, describing being left with bruises, cuts, and bleeding. The same woman also recounted a prior incident in 2019, stating she woke up naked in a hotel room with Swalwell after drinking, with no memory of what occurred, though she believed sexual contact had taken place while she was working in his office.
The former staffer also described a pattern of alleged misconduct, including an incident where Swalwell, who is married and 17 years her senior, allegedly attempted to kiss her in her car after a donor meeting. Weeks later, she alleged he exposed himself and solicited a sex act from her in a parking lot during another car ride. Their relationship reportedly included private communication on Snapchat, where Swalwell allegedly sent sexual messages and explicit photos and requested similar images from her.
In response to the allegations, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office has opened a criminal investigation into at least one incident that allegedly occurred in New York City. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office released a statement urging "survivors and anyone with knowledge of these allegations to contact our Special Victims Division."
Representative Swalwell has denied the allegations. In a video statement, he called the allegations "flat false," asserting, "They did not happen; they have never happened." He had previously posted on social media, "To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s."
The allegations and subsequent investigations led to a significant withdrawal of support from Swalwell's political allies. Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona, who chaired Swalwell's 2020 presidential campaign, stated on X: "I support the ethics committee’s investigation and believe Eric Swalwell is no longer fit to be a Member of Congress. I want to be clear: I had no knowledge of the allegations of assault, harassment, and predatory behavior against Eric Swalwell," adding that Swalwell was "not the person I thought I knew." California Senator Adam Schiff, who had withdrawn his endorsement for Swalwell’s gubernatorial bid, told reporters, "The whole thing is just shocking and deeply upsetting. I think he made the right decision to resign."
Following Swalwell's resignation, Representative Anna Paulina Luna announced her intention to file a motion to force his expulsion from Congress, a measure that has only been carried out six times in congressional history and requires a two-thirds majority vote. Swalwell's departure will necessitate a special election in his district, which he won by over 30 percentage points in 2024. Under California law, the governor must call this special election within 14 calendar days of the vacancy.
Separately, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) agency has referred allegations that Swalwell illegally employed a Brazilian nanny to law enforcement officials at the Department of Homeland Security for investigation.
