Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) announced his resignation from the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday, citing mounting pressure from bipartisan calls for his expulsion and the need to avoid distracting his constituents from legislative duties.
In a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter), Swalwell wrote: “I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make.”
He continued: “I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members. 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.”
Swalwell, who represents California’s 14th Congressional District, said he would work with his staff over the coming days to ensure continuity of service for his constituents.
The resignation comes just one day after Swalwell suspended his campaign for California governor amid a growing scandal involving multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. More than 50 former staffers signed a letter demanding he resign from Congress and drop out of the gubernatorial race, describing the claims as “serious” and “credible.” The allegations include sexual assault of a former staffer, lewd text messages, and other inappropriate behavior, according to reports from outlets including the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN. Swalwell has denied the most serious claims as “flat false.”
The controversy escalated rapidly over the weekend. Bipartisan members of Congress, including some Democrats, publicly called for Swalwell’s resignation or signaled they would support an expulsion vote this week. Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R) and others vowed to force the issue if he did not step down voluntarily. Labor unions that had backed his gubernatorial bid, including the California Service Employees International Union and California Teachers Association, withdrew their support.
Swalwell, a longtime Democratic lawmaker and former prosecutor, first gained national attention during the Trump-Russia investigations and impeachment proceedings. He has faced prior scrutiny over his past association with a suspected Chinese intelligence operative known as “Fang Fang,” though he has denied any wrongdoing in that matter.
Reactions to Monday’s announcement poured in quickly on social media. Supporters praised what they called a difficult but responsible decision to prioritize his district, while critics, across party lines, accused him of attempting to avoid full accountability. Some highlighted the apparent hypocrisy given Swalwell’s past criticisms of former President Trump over similar personal conduct allegations.
Swalwell’s resignation will trigger a special election in California’s 14th District. House leadership has not yet commented officially on the timing of any expulsion proceedings, though sources indicate momentum for a vote had been building regardless of his decision.
This marks the latest high-profile congressional departure tied to sexual misconduct claims in recent years, underscoring ongoing scrutiny of personal behavior in Washington. Swalwell’s office did not immediately respond to requests for further comment beyond the public statement.
