Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales ended their congressional careers on Tuesday, submitting resignations as lawmakers from both parties prepared expulsion resolutions over sexual misconduct allegations. Swalwell's departure took effect at 2 p.m. ET, while Gonzales' resignation became official at 11:59 p.m. the same day.
The twin exits marked a sudden conclusion to careers that had seemed on firmer ground just days earlier. Swalwell, a seven-term California Democrat first elected in 2012, had been positioned as a leading candidate to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom in the state's gubernatorial race before the San Francisco Chronicle reported that a former staffer had accused him of sexual assault on two occasions. CNN subsequently published a similar account alongside allegations from three additional women who said Swalwell had sent them unsolicited sexual messages.
Gonzales, a Texas Republican elected in 2020, faced mounting pressure after publicly acknowledging an affair with a congressional aide who later died by suicide. While he had announced plans to leave office at the end of his current term, Swalwell's resignation accelerated the timeline for his departure.
Both lawmakers faced the prospect of expulsion hearings had they remained in office. Democratic Rep. Nydia Velázquez said the chamber "should not tolerate representatives who abuse staff, betray public trust for personal gain, and generally violate their oath of office." Republican Nancy Mace, herself a sexual assault survivor, declared that "Congress has a predator problem."
The resignations did not satisfy all parties involved. Lisa Bloom, attorney for accuser Lonna Drewes, argued that Swalwell's departure allowed him to escape accountability. "Once he steps down, the ethics committee no longer has jurisdiction to impose consequences on him," Bloom said at a Beverly Hills press conference. Drewes announced plans to file a police report with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office.
Swalwell's legal team maintained his innocence in a statement, describing the allegations as "false, fabricated, and deeply offensive" and characterizing them as "a calculated and transparent political hit job." Swalwell himself had previously vowed to "fight the serious false allegation made against me" after suspending his gubernatorial campaign.
California Gov. Newsom announced that a special election to fill the now-vacant 14th congressional district seat would occur on Aug. 18.
Congressional attention has extended beyond Swalwell and Gonzales. House lawmakers have discussed expulsion votes for Cory Mills, a Florida Republican facing misconduct and ethics allegations, and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Florida Democrat indicted on charges of funneling millions in federal money from her company to her campaign. Both remain under ethics committee investigation.
Expulsion votes remain historically rare in the House. Only six members have been expelled in the chamber's history, with George Santos being the most recent in 2023 after revelations about fabricated credentials. Santos later pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges before Trump commuted his prison sentence.
Author James Rodriguez: "When Congress members flee rather than face ethics proceedings, it signals the institution lacks teeth on accountability, and victims get left holding empty bags of justice."
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