Rep. Eric Swalwell Resigns from Congress Amid Controversy

California Representative Eric Swalwell announced his resignation from Congress on Monday. He cited increasing pressure and public scrutiny linked to ongoing controversies as driving factors for his decision.

Swalwell’s political career faced significant backlash after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct. One notable allegation came from a former staff member who claimed he initiated unwanted sexual contact with her. In a social media post, Swalwell firmly denied these accusations but also acknowledged that he had made mistakes in the past.

In his statement, he expressed, “I deeply apologize to my family, staff, and constituents for the errors of judgment I made in the past. I will fight the serious and false allegations made against me. However, I must accept responsibility and accountability for the mistakes I have made. I am aware of efforts to bring immediate expulsion votes against me and other members. It is wrong to expel a member of Congress without due process within days of an allegation being made. But it is also wrong for my constituents to allow me to be distracted from my job. Therefore, I will resign my seat in Congress.”

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office confirmed over the weekend that they are investigating sexual assault allegations involving Swalwell. These allegations date back to an encounter with a former staffer after a charity event in 2024. According to reports, she alleged that she awoke intoxicated with him in her bed and that she instructed him to stop, but he did not comply. Previously, in September 2019, the same woman claimed that she found herself undressed in Swalwell’s hotel room while working for him.

Several Democratic colleagues have urged Swalwell to withdraw from his governor campaign in California. In 2023, then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy removed him from the House Intelligence Committee due to concerns regarding his reported connections with Christine Huang, who allegedly has ties to China’s Ministry of State Security. Swalwell has denied any inappropriate relationships.

On Sunday night, Swalwell announced the suspension of his California gubernatorial campaign through a post on X. He stated that he took responsibility for his previous poor judgments and expressed regret to his family, staff, and supporters. Despite these challenges, he emphasized that he would continue to contest the allegations made against him.