Swalwell ends gubernatorial bid, resigns from Congress amid sexual misconduct allegations

By Aldgra Fredly, Joseph Lord
Contributing Writers

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., suspended his bid for California governor on Sunday after reports emerged accusing the Democrat of sexual assault — and he announced the following day he would also be resigning from Congress. 

“I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s,” Swalwell wrote in a post on X on Sunday evening.  

On Monday, while criticizing efforts to expel him from Congress, Swalwell said, “I plan to resign my seat in Congress.” 

“I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past,” Swalwell wrote in a Sunday post on X. “I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make.”  

Swalwell has consistently denied the allegations, which were first reported on Friday by the San Francisco Chronicle. The woman who made the allegations told the Chronicle, which didn’t name her, that Swalwell sexually assaulted her on two occasions, including while she was employed by him.  

The former staffer accused Swalwell of sexually assaulting her while she was intoxicated on two occasions — once in 2019 while she was employed by him and again after a charity gala in 2024 — according to the report by the Chronicle. 

“These allegations of sexual assault are flat false. They are absolutely false. They did not happen, they have never happened. I will fight them with everything I have,” Swalwell said in a video posted to social media on Saturday. 

The congressman subsequently faced pressure from fellow Democrats to withdraw from the California gubernatorial race. On Friday, House Democratic leaders — including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, D-Calif. — issued a joint statement calling for an investigation into the allegations. 

Bipartisan calls also grew for Swalwell to resign from Congress, though until Monday he had not indicated any intention to step down. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., told NBC News on Sunday that she would vote to expel him. Expelling a member of the House requires a two-thirds majority vote. 

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said in a post on X that she would file a motion to expel Swalwell from Congress, urging the politician to resign within 24 hours. Luna also seeks to expel Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, who admitted to an affair with a former staffer and abandoned his reelection bid last month. 

Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., wrote on X that he would support voting to expel both Swalwell and Gonzales if they do not resign from Congress. 

Separately, more than 50 of Swalwell’s former staffers signed a letter urging him to resign from Congress and withdraw his gubernatorial bid, describing the sexual misconduct allegations as serious and credible. They called on authorities to launch a full investigation into the allegations. 

“Remaining in either role while these allegations hang unresolved is an insult to every person who has ever worked for him, reported to him, or placed their trust in him,” the former staffers wrote in the letter shared with multiple media outlets. 

California is scheduled to hold its primary election on June 2. Democratic contenders remaining in California’s gubernatorial race include former Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, former Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., billionaire activist Tom Steyer, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. 

Ethics Committee Launches Probe 

House Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest, R-Miss., and Ranking Member Mark DeSaulnier, D-Calif., announced on Monday the committee has opened an investigation into Swalwell over the allegations of sexual misconduct. 

The statement said the committee “has begun an investigation and will gather additional information regarding the allegations that Rep. 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 committee noted that the investigation alone does not indicate that any violation has occurred and “no other public comment will be made on this matter except in accordance with committee rules.” 

The announcement came on Monday afternoon as the House gaveled back in after a recess and several Republican lawmakers and at least seven Democratic House members publicly called on Swalwell to resign or face expulsion from Congress. 

Chase Smith contributed to this report. 

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