Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., speaks during the House Democrats hearing marking the five year anniversary of the attack on the Capitol, in the Capitol Visitor Center on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026.
Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images
Rep. Eric Swalwell, a former Democratic frontrunner in the California gubernatorial race, resigned from Congress on Monday amid sexual misconduct allegations.
Swalwell announced his resignation in a statement posted to his X account, while still denying some of the allegations made against him in recent days.
“I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make,” Swalwell said in the statement.
Swalwell, 45, came to Congress in 2013 and had been a top contender in the California governor’s race before suspending his campaign on Sunday. He briefly ran for president in 2019. But the San Francisco Chronicle reported on Friday that a former congressional aide to Swalwell alleged a series of sexual encounters while he was her boss. The woman alleged Swalwell sexually assaulted her on two occasions when she was too intoxicated to give consent.
CNN also reported on Friday that three other women alleged “various kinds of sexual misconduct” by Swalwell, including unsolicited explicit messages and nude photos.
Swalwell has repeatedly denied these allegations.
His resignation came amid growing calls for his expulsion from his congressional colleagues over the weekend and as the House Ethics Committee announced on Monday it was opening an investigation into his conduct.
“I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members,” Swalwell said in his statement on Monday. “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.”
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., had announced her plans to introduce a resolution to expel Swalwell.
Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, D-N.M., was one of a sizable group of Democrats who said they would support such a resolution. Fernandez on Sunday said she would introduce a separate expulsion measure to remove Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, who has been dogged by allegations that he had an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide.
Gonzales in March announced he would not seek reelection, but so far has not been officially disciplined by Congress. The House Ethics Committee is also investigating Gonzales.
“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,” Fernandez said in a post to X.
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