Swalwell says he’ll resign from Congress after assault allegations

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California announced Monday that he will resign from Congress after multiple sexual assault allegations led to loud bipartisan calls for him to step down.

The decision marks a swift political downfall for the seven-term lawmaker, who was seen as the front-runner in California’s governor’s race before withdrawing as the allegations surfaced, which he has continued to deny.

“I am deeply sorry to my family, my staff and my constituents for the mistakes I have made in governance in the past,” Swalwell said on social media. “I will fight the serious false accusations against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I have made.”

This is a breaking news update. The previous AP story follows below.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee has launched an investigation into whether Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., engaged in sexual misconduct toward a staffer who worked under him, the panel announced Monday.

The announcement comes one day after Swalwell suspended his campaign for governor of California after allegations surfaced that he continues to deny.

Democrats quickly abandoned their support for Swalwell after allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman twice, including when she worked for him. Reports published in the San Francisco Chronicle and later by CNN came as Swalwell began to emerge as a major contender in the crowded race.

“I will fight the dangerous and false allegations that have been made, but this is my fight, not mine,” Swalwell said in a social media post.

The Ethics Committee said that the mere fact that it investigated these allegations, and publicly disclosed its review, did not in itself indicate that any violation had occurred.

A growing number of lawmakers, from both political parties, have called on Swalwell to resign from Congress. Talks have even moved toward a possible House vote to expel the congressman, but no date has been set for action.

The Ethics Committee’s decision to launch its own investigation will likely stall any further immediate action in Congress for the time being.

Rep. Ana Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said over the weekend that she would introduce a motion to expel Swalwell from Congress, but that could prompt Democrats to force similar votes against Republicans.

The most likely target would be Republican Representative Tony Gonzalez of Texas, who admitted to having an affair with a former employee who later died by suicide.

Many Democrats sought to distance themselves from Swalwell after the San Francisco Chronicle reported on Friday that a woman said Swalwell sexually assaulted her in 2019 and 2024. The newspaper reviewed text messages about the alleged assault in 2024 and spoke to the people who told them about it. She told the newspaper that she did not go to the police because she was afraid that no one would believe her.

The woman worked for Swalwell in 2019 when the first alleged assault occurred, and the 2024 assault allegedly occurred after a charity event, the newspaper reported. In both cases, she said she was too drunk to consent to sex.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said she believes Gonzalez and Swalwell should resign from Congress.

“I think it’s very important that we believe women, that we show people around the Capitol and around the country that we will not tolerate this type of behavior,” Jayapal said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

On the same program, Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., said he would vote to expel Swalwell and Gonzalez if such a vote were brought up on the House floor.

“These things are completely unacceptable. As far as I’m concerned, the two gentlemen should go home,” Donalds said.