California Rep. Eric Swalwell resigns from Congress after sexual misconduct scandal
Rep. Eric Swalwell resigned from Congress Monday as he faced potential expulsion from office after he dropped out of the California governor’s race Sunday following accusations from four women who said he committed sexual misconduct ranging from sending nude photos to rape.
“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,” the Dublin Democrat said in a statement. “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, D-Dublin, has served the East Bay-area 14th Congressional District since 2013, when he ousted incumbent Rep. Pete Stark. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has resisted weighing in on the race, can call a special election per state code. His office said it was reviewing the matter and would make a decision after Swalwell officially gave up his seat.
On Sunday, Swalwell suspended his campaign for governor, a race in which he had been a leading Democratic challenger until the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN published reports of his alleged misconduct on Friday.
A former member of his district office staff said he had raped her once in New York in 2024 and once in the East Bay in 2019. District attorneys for both Alameda County and Manhattan said they were investigating possible criminal conduct. The House Ethics Committee also announced an investigation Monday.
Three other women said he made unwanted advances, including sending unsolicited photos of his penis and shirtless torso selfies.
Swalwell previously denied the accusations and resisted resigning from office even as supporters withdrew their endorsements. Dozens of former campaign and office staffers denounced him and said they stood by the former staffer.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., had previously said she would introduce a motion to expel Swalwell and three other members of Congress facing misconduct allegations when the House reconvened Tuesday.
This story was originally published April 13, 2026 at 4:52 PM with the headline "California Rep. Eric Swalwell resigns from Congress after sexual misconduct scandal."
