Rep. Eric Swalwell resigns from Congress after sexual assault allegations – NBC New York

Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California introduced Monday he’ll resign from Congress following a number of sexual assault allegations that prompted loud bipartisan requires him to step down.

The choice caps a swift political fall for the seven-term lawmaker, who had been seen as a frontrunner in California’s gubernatorial race earlier than dropping out because the allegations surfaced, claims he has continued to disclaim.

The San Francisco Chronicle, adopted by CNN, first reported allegations that Swalwell had sexually assaulted a girl twice, together with when she labored for him. CNN additionally reported that three different girls alleged varied sorts of sexual misconduct by Swalwell — together with sending them unsolicited specific messages or nude images.

“I’m deeply sorry to my household, workers, and constituents for errors in judgment I’ve made in my previous,” Swalwell stated on social media. “I’ll battle the intense false allegation made in opposition to me. Nevertheless, I have to take duty and possession for the errors I did make.”

The Home Ethics Committee had begun an investigation into whether or not Swalwell engaged in sexual misconduct towards an worker working underneath his supervision, the panel introduced Monday. The announcement got here someday after Swalwell suspended his marketing campaign for California governor.

A number of Democrats had known as on him to step apart. Swalwell wrote in a press release posted to social media that he was “conscious of efforts to convey a right away expulsion vote” and that it was “mistaken” with out due course of.

“But it surely’s additionally mistaken for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Due to this fact, I plan to resign my seat in Congress,” Swalwell wrote.

Swalwell’s deliberate departure will set off a particular election in his district, situated exterior San Francisco, which he gained by over 30 proportion factors in 2024. In California, the governor is liable for calling a particular election, which he should do “inside 14 calendar days of the incidence of the emptiness,” in accordance with state election legislation.

The Ethics Committee stated the mere incontrovertible fact that it’s investigating these allegations, and publicly disclosing its assessment, doesn’t itself point out that any violation has occurred.