Rep. Eric Swalwell announced Monday he will step down from his House seat following sexual harassment and assault allegations from four women.
The California Democrat said the distraction to his constituents outweighed arguments against removal without due process. "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," Swalwell said in a statement.
Swalwell disputed some of the claims while acknowledging personal responsibility. He said he will "fight the serious, false allegation made against me" but added "I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make."
The resignation comes a day after Swalwell suspended his campaign for California governor, where he had emerged as a top Democratic contender in a crowded primary field.
Swalwell indicated he would not leave office immediately, saying he plans to work with his staff over the coming days to ensure his district office can continue serving constituents.
The move does not resolve separate pressure on Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), who faces expulsion calls after admitting to an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus, plans to advance a resolution to expel Gonzales, according to sources familiar with the matter.
"Tony Gonzales should resign immediately," said Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), signaling she supports expulsion efforts. She added she has "not heard that the Tony Gonzales resolution is cancelled and will support his expulsion."
Author James Rodriguez: "Swalwell's exit clears one headache for Democrats, but the Gonzales situation shows the chamber still hasn't figured out how to handle these cases fairly or quickly."
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