Eric Swalwell officially submitted his resignation from Congress Tuesday.
The married former California governor hopeful has defiantly shot down the sexual assault and rape claims against him — but had said he felt it was right to step aside amid the chaos.
The House Clerk read off his resignation letter Tuesday
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), who threatened expulsion against Swalwell’s neck for days, had demanded a swift resignation process for the Democrat. On Tuesday morning, after her demands, Luna said that “that Swalwell has begun the internal process of switching his staff over to the Clerk of the House.”
Swalwell’s intent to resign also led Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales of Texas — also accused of sexual misconduct — to remove himself in the face of a broader threat of expulsion of multiple members with ethics concerns.
Swalwell was about to be subjected to a House Ethics Committee investigation, which could have dug up more information on his alleged incidents.
Despite his resignation, the Democrat still made it clear he disagreed with the expulsion efforts.
“Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong,” he said.
The past few days have been a stunning and swift fall for Swalwell, once seen as an anti-Trump icon for the left.
Rumors began swirling last week of Swalwell last week when influencers hinted at improper behavior with women from him. The candidate initially claimed there was zero truth to the rumors.
All that changed on Friday, when CNN and the San Francisco reported in detail accusations from four women.
One former staffer alleged he raped her in a hotel in New York City in 2024, sparking an investigation from the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. He’s also accused of lewd sexual acts such as sending nudes, harassing and turning up outside one woman’s home.
That same day, the disgraced congressman in a video insisted allegations were still false but admitted lapses in judgment, saying “those mistakes are between me and my wife and to her I apologize deeply.”
The statement, however, did not calm the nerves of his supporters. Reaction was brutally swift. Key allies, including his “best friend” Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Arizona), abandoned him. Major organizations withdrew endorsements and financial efforts. Political powerhouses like former Speaker Nancy Pelosi called on him to drop out.
Current and former staffers issued damning letters against Swalwell, indicating he had very little support even within his own staff.
On Sunday, Swalwell suspended his campaign for the governor’s race. Then on Monday, he said he would resign from Congress.
Swalwell’s troubles may not be ending any time soon. In addition to the investigation by the Manhattan DA, another accuser announced “legal steps” in Beverly Hills on Tuesday.
On social media, more and more past material on Swalwell begin to surface. Some, including Luna, hinted at more shocking news that would come out on him.
“He made the correct decision, but there still needs to be a full-fledged criminal investigation. Based on what I’m hearing, he may go to jail,” she said.
