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By Gabe Whisnant
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Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell of California said Monday that he will resign from Congress after multiple sexual assault allegations that he has denied.
The decision comes amid mounting bipartisan pressure, including the launch of a House Ethics Committee investigation and talk of a possible expulsion vote.
Swalwell’s resignation will trigger a special election in his Bay Area district and end the political career of a onetime gubernatorial front-runner.
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Allegations Prompt Resignation and Ethics Probe
Swalwell, a seven‑term lawmaker, had recently been seen as a leading contender in California’s race for governor before suspending his campaign as the allegations surfaced.
The San Francisco Chronicle, followed by CNN, reported that a woman accused Swalwell of sexually assaulting her twice, including once when she worked for him. CNN later reported that three additional women accused him of various forms of sexual misconduct, including sending unsolicited explicit messages or nude photos. Swalwell has denied the sexual assault allegations.
“I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past,” Swalwell said on social media. “I will fight the serious false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make.”
Swalwell is married to Brittany Watts, who has largely remained outside the public spotlight and has not commented publicly on the allegations or on her husband’s decision to step down. Swalwell and Watts were married in October 2016 and have three children together.
The House Ethics Committee announced Monday that it had opened an investigation into whether Swalwell engaged in sexual misconduct toward an employee under his supervision. The panel stressed that opening and publicly disclosing an inquiry does not itself indicate wrongdoing.
Fallout Forces End of Congressional Career
As pressure grew, several Democrats publicly urged Swalwell to step aside.
In a social media statement, he said he was “aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote” and said such action would be “wrong” without due process.
“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 wrote.
His planned departure will trigger a special election in his district outside San Francisco, which he won by more than 30 percentage points in 2024. Under California law, Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom must call a special election “within 14 calendar days of the occurrence of the vacancy.”
Update: 4/13/26, 6:40 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
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