Rep. Eric Swalwell said Monday he will resign from Congress, days after ending his campaign for governor amid widening allegations of sexual misconduct.
“I’m deeply sorry to my family, staff and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past,” Swalwell said in a statement posted 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.”
The announcement comes as the House Ethics Committee opened an investigation, preempting a potential expulsion effort that had gained traction, including support from Sen. Ruben Gallego, a former ally in his gubernatorial bid.
“I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members,” Swalwell continued. “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.”
The accusations stem from reports by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN last week, in which four women alleged sexual misconduct. One former staffer accused Swalwell of sexually assaulting her in 2024 while she was intoxicated in New York City — the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said Saturday it had opened an investigation into that allegation.
Swalwell’s fall was swift following the Chronicle and CNN reports; several current and former Democratic colleagues, including Nancy Pelosi, called for him to end his gubernatorial run, while staffers from his congressional and campaign offices issued a statement in support of his accusers on Saturday. By Sunday, several D.C. insiders said they had heard about his conduct, with one calling it an “open secret” in Washington.
How Swalwell’s seat will be filled was not immediately clear, though an announcement is expected from Gov. Gavin Newsom once Swalwell formally steps down.
Swalwell’s sudden departure throws the California governor’s race into turmoil — he had been projected as a frontrunner in a crowded field of Democrats who now run the risk of splitting the vote in the state’s open primary, which could potentially mean two Republicans could move on to the Nov. 3 election.
