Swalwell announces resignation as expulsion motion advances in Congress
Swalwell announces congressional resignation amid expulsion motion and misconduct investigations.
Event / Politics
Multiple members of Congress face investigations by the House Ethics Committee for sexual misconduct, domestic violence, financial misconduct, and other allegations. Cases include expulsion efforts, committee sanctions, and resignations.
2026-08-18 to 2026-11-15 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 11 Apr, 05:36 UTC
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Eric Swalwell announced his resignation from Congress on Monday, stating he was taking responsibility for mistakes in judgment while disputing the rape allegation. The resignation came ahead of an announced expulsion motion filed by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) appeared on CNN's State of the Union on Sunday and stated that Swalwell should drop out of the gubernatorial race but hedged on whether he should resign from Congress, saying he wanted to hear Swalwell's side of the story.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) announced on Saturday morning that she was filing a motion to expel Swalwell from Congress and pushing for a floor vote that week. As an expulsion motion carries privileged status in the House, Luna could force an up-or-down vote without committee review, requiring every House member to go on record.
The San Francisco Chronicle and CNN published reports detailing sexual misconduct allegations from four women against California congressman Eric Swalwell. The allegations include a rape claim from a former staffer corroborated by text messages, medical records, and witness testimony, as well as claims from three other women regarding unsolicited explicit messages and nude photographs.
California congressman Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign for governor on Sunday following the publication of sexual misconduct allegations.
Rep. Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign for California governor following the emergence of sexual misconduct allegations against him. The announcement came one day before the House Ethics Committee announced its investigation.
More than a dozen House Democrats from battleground districts sent a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urging them to expedite Ethics Committee investigations into several members facing allegations of misconduct and possible expulsion votes. The letter, led by Rep. Susie Lee (D-Nevada), requested immediate action to ensure investigations proceed swiftly and findings are made public.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Florida) threatened to force a House vote to expel Rep. Swalwell, stating she intends to file a privileged motion on Tuesday to begin the process. Luna said she believes she has the votes to succeed and intends to proceed with the expulsion resolution regardless of the Ethics Committee investigation.
A former staffer accused Rep. Swalwell of sexually assaulting her on two separate occasions. In September 2019, she said she became severely intoxicated at a drinks invitation and woke up naked in Swalwell's hotel bed with evidence of vaginal intercourse. In April 2024, she said they met for drinks after a charity gala where she became so intoxicated she remembered only snippets of the night, including pushing Swalwell away and telling him 'No' while he allegedly forced himself on her.
Rep. Swalwell denied the allegations of sexual assault, calling them 'flat false' and stating he will fight the serious allegations. In a video statement, he acknowledged making mistakes in judgment in the past but characterized those as personal matters between him and his wife.
The House Ethics Committee announced on Monday that it has begun an investigation into whether Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-California) violated the Code of Official Conduct or any law regarding allegations that he engaged in sexual misconduct, including toward an employee working under his supervision.
A woman who worked for Swalwell alleged that on two separate occasions while she was his employee, Swalwell attempted to kiss her in her car after a donor meeting and later pulled out his penis while driving to an event, asking her to perform oral sex on him. She said she complied in a parking lot.
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office opened a probe into an allegation that Rep. Swalwell raped a woman while she was intoxicated, following reports that the incident occurred in 2019 and left her bruised and bleeding.
Three additional women detailed allegations of sexual misconduct by Rep. Swalwell to CNN beyond the former staffer's accounts. The additional allegations emerged following initial reporting by the San Francisco Chronicle.
Rep. Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign for California governor on Sunday, April 13, 2026, following the emergence of sexual assault allegations. Swalwell had been considered a leading Democratic contender in the crowded gubernatorial primary before the allegations surfaced. More than 20 major Democratic organizations and officials withdrew their endorsements of his campaign in response to the allegations.
Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California announced on Monday, April 14, 2026 that he will resign from Congress. The seven-term lawmaker's resignation comes following multiple sexual assault allegations and bipartisan calls for him to step down. In his statement, Swalwell expressed being deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment he made in the past while maintaining that the sexual assault allegations against him are false.
On April 10, 2026, the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN published reports in which multiple unnamed women accused Rep. Eric Swalwell of sexual assault. One woman alleged that Swalwell sexually assaulted her on two occasions: once in 2019 when she was employed by him, and again in 2024 after a charity gala. The woman stated she was too intoxicated to consent in both instances and did not report to police due to concerns about being believed. The San Francisco Chronicle reviewed text messages related to the 2024 alleged assault and spoke to people she had confided in. Swalwell has denied all allegations.
The House Ethics Committee announced on Monday, April 14, 2026 that it would investigate allegations that Rep. Eric Swalwell engaged in sexual misconduct toward an employee working under his supervision. The committee's public disclosure of the investigation does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred, according to the panel.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., announced over the weekend that she would be filing a motion to expel Rep. Eric Swalwell from Congress in response to the sexual assault allegations. The potential expulsion motion could prompt Democrats to force similar votes against Republicans, with Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas being identified as a likely target given his acknowledged affair with a former staff member who later died by suicide.
The Department of Homeland Security opened an investigation into Eric Swalwell for allegedly paying a nanny after she overstayed her visa, according to information provided by a right-wing filmmaker who had previously sued Swalwell.
Swalwell announces congressional resignation amid expulsion motion and misconduct investigations.
Four women accuse Swalwell of sexual misconduct; formal investigations and expulsion motion underway.
Official investigations by House Ethics and Manhattan DA escalate accountability mechanisms against Swalwell amid four misconduct allegations.
Multiple investigations, expulsion motion, and institutional pressure intensify Swalwell's political crisis as he denies misconduct allegations.
Swalwell's campaign and congressional staff jointly oppose his conduct, escalating internal institutional dissent amid investigations and expulsion efforts.
Four women accuse Swalwell of sexual misconduct; DA investigation launched; congressman denies all allegations.
Swalwell suspends gubernatorial campaign after Democratic leaders and major allies withdraw support amid misconduct allegations.
Campaign staffers and Democratic allies abandon Swalwell's gubernatorial campaign following misconduct allegations.
Manhattan DA investigation and aggressive legal defense escalate formal accountability mechanisms against Swalwell.
Luna introduces congressional expulsion motion against Swalwell amid ongoing misconduct allegations and DA investigation.
Swalwell's gubernatorial campaign disintegrated as Democratic leaders, staff, and unions systematically withdrew support.
Swalwell's legal team escalates defense with cease-and-desist letters while maintaining denial of all allegations.