Eric Swalwell’s resignation took effect April 15 when the California Democrat relinquished his seven-term House seat, capping a political collapse that erased both his congressional career and his front-runner status in California’s gubernatorial race in less than a week.
Summary
- Swalwell announced his resignation on April 13 under bipartisan pressure, and the House Ethics Committee opened a formal investigation the same day into whether he engaged in sexual misconduct toward a staffer under his supervision.
- A fifth woman, Lonna Drewes, held a press conference on April 14 in Beverly Hills alleging that Swalwell drugged and assaulted her at a West Hollywood hotel in 2018.
- The resignation leaves California’s 14th District vacant ahead of the November elections. midterm examsand California Governor Gavin Newsom will call a special election.
Eric Swalwell’s resignation marked the abrupt end of a 13-year congressional career that, as recently as last week, had been on track to produce California’s next governor. Swalwell, 45 years old, resigned after at least five women publicly accused him of assault and sexual misconduct in reports first published by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN.
“I will fight the serious and false accusations made against me,” Swalwell wrote in his resignation statement. “However, I must take responsibility and accountability for the mistakes I made.”
The allegations surfaced late last week. A former employee told CNN that Swalwell sexually assaulted her on two occasions, including one incident that left her “bruised and bleeding.” Three other women alleged unsolicited explicit messages and nude photos via Snapchat. By Sunday, all 21 congressional endorsements of Swalwell in the governor’s race had been withdrawn. He suspended the campaign that night.
The collapse accelerated on April 14 when a fifth woman, Lonna Drewes, appeared at a press conference in Beverly Hills represented by attorney Lisa Bloom. Drewes alleged that Swalwell drugged and assaulted her at a West Hollywood hotel in 2018. “When I got to her hotel room she was already incapacitated,” she said in statements reported by several media outlets. “He raped me.” Swalwell’s attorney denied all allegations of assault.
The mathematics of Congress after his departure
The House Ethics Committee opened a formal investigation on April 13. That investigation will likely end with his departure. Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna had introduced a resolution to expel Swalwell, but confirmed she withdrew it once his resignation was official. Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas also announced his own resignation the same day, citing an affair with a former employee who later committed suicide.
Swalwell’s departure leaves a vacancy in California’s 14th District, a safe Democratic seat east of San Francisco. The timing of the special election is at Newsom’s discretion. Democrats head to November midterm exams with one less House member and a significant reputational story to manage in what is already a challenging election cycle.
The consequences of the Democratic Party
Sen. Adam Schiff, who had endorsed Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign, told reporters that the allegations were “shocking and deeply disturbing,” adding that he believed the resignation was “the right decision.” No prominent Democrats have publicly disputed that assessment.
The race for governor of California remains open. Swalwell had led several early polls before the scandal came to light, and his departure reshuffles a Democratic primary already packed with candidates hoping to succeed Newsom.
