Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., announced Monday that he plans to resign from Congress following allegations of sexual misconduct, saying he was “deeply sorry” to his family, staff and constituents for his “mistakes” while calling the accusations “false.” Swalwell said in his announcement that he was aware of efforts to force an immediate expulsion vote and that “expelling anyone from Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong,” but added that he did not want his constituents distracted from his duties.
Top Democrats praised Swalwell’s decision. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said she was “glad that [Swalwell] will be gone” and that people in positions of power “need to be held accountable,” according to comments reported in the original release. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., called the resignation “a good decision” and said “it’s terrible — what has been alleged.” Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., told CNN he thought Swalwell made the right choice. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told Politico she believed the resignation was Swalwell’s decision and that she had “none whatsoever” prior knowledge of the allegations, Politico reported.
Republicans also applauded the move while demanding answers about what Democrats knew. Steve Hilton, a Republican running in the California governor’s race, criticized “career politicians” and questioned why Swalwell ran for governor, in remarks to Fox News Digital. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said it was the “first smart thing he’s done.” Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., called for a “full-fledged criminal investigation,” saying in a statement that the allegations could lead to jail time.
Within an hour of Swalwell’s announcement, Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, also said he would resign amid separate sexual misconduct allegations. Gonzales said in a statement that “there is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all” and that he would file his retirement when Congress returned. Gonzales last month had said he would not seek reelection.
Legal analyst Jonathan Turley, a George Washington University professor, said the resignation will spare lawmakers from an immediate expulsion vote and potential complications of an ethics inquiry, adding that few defense attorneys would welcome responding to an open-ended ethics investigation when expulsion seems likely. Other Republicans questioned Democrats’ prior handling of Swalwell, with commentators and strategists asking what party officials knew and when, remarks made in interviews and commentary quoted by Fox News Digital and other outlets.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
