April 13 (UPI) — U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell resigned from Congress Monday amid accusations of sexual misconduct and abuse that are being investigated by a House committee and the Manhattan district attorney’s office.
The California representative and former gubernatorial candidate said he would work to make sure his staff can continue to serve his constituents after he leaves office amid investigations into the accusations against him.
More than 50 of his staffers and dozens of his colleagues in Congress had been calling for him to resign over the weekend.
“I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members,” Swalwell said in a statement posted on X. “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,” he said in the statement. “Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress.”
The House Ethics Committee also announced Monday that it will investigate the accusations against Swalwell.
The Democratic congressman has over the last week faced a growing number of accusations of sexual misconduct and assault from several women, including a former staffer.
Swalwell on Sunday suspended his campaign for California governor as the accusations against him grew and the Manhattan district attorney’s office said it was investigating them.
“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 other law or rule that applies to standard of conduct while performing his job as a member of Congress, the House committee said in a statement.
The committee said it is investigating the “allegations that he may have engaged in sexual misconduct, including toward an employee working under his supervision,” but that the investigation “does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred.”
“To my family, staff, friends and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in the past,” Swalwell said Sunday night in a social media statement announcing his campaign’s suspension.
“I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s.”
In response, several members of Congress, including Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., called for him to resign — which Swalwell noted in his resignation statement.
Allegations of sexual misconduct, including rape, by four women against Swalwell, were first reported Friday by CNN and the San Francisco Chronicle. One accuser, a former staffer, alleged she was raped by the 45-year-old congressman while she was drunk in 2024. She said she was left bruised and bleeding after trying to resist.
On Saturday, the Manhattan district attorney’s office confirmed to The Washington Post that it had opened an investigation into the allegations.
Swalwell refuted those allegations in a weekend video statement, framing them as political.
“For nearly 20 years, I have served the public — as a prosecutor and a congressman — and have always protected women,” he said. “I will defend myself with the facts and, where necessary, bring legal action.”
The suspension of his campaign came after a series of high-profile resignations and rescinded endorsements.
Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., resigned as his campaign’s co-chair, while Rep. Adam Gray, D-Calif., his other co-chair, said he withdrew support for Swalwell.
Sen. Adam Schiff, a veteran Democratic lawmaker from California, also withdrew his endorsement, as did Sen. Ruben Gallego from Arizona.
On Sunday, more than 50 former Swalwell staffers signed a letter stating the allegations against the House member were “serious, credible and demand accountability,” while demanding that he suspend his gubernatorial campaign and resign from Congress.
“The people of California’s 14th Congressional District, and the people of this country, deserve representation from someone whose conduct reflects the values of public service,” the staffers said.
“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.”
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., had said she would file a motion to expel Swalwell from Congress if he did not resign first.
“You have 24 hours to announce you are resigning,” she said late Sunday in a social media statement.
Swalwell was a leading Democratic candidate ahead of June’s gubernatorial primary election to replace incumbent Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited from running for a third time in the blue state. The gubernatorial election is scheduled Nov. 3.
