Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell of California and Republican Tony Gonzales of Texas have both resigned from the U.S. House of Representatives amid sexual misconduct allegations. Swalwell officially stepped down on Tuesday at 2 p.m. Eastern Time, while Gonzales’s resignation took effect later that evening at 11:59 p.m., as reported by The Guardian.
Swalwell faced multiple accusations, including two rape allegations, one from a former staffer and another by Lonna Drewes, who claimed he raped and choked her in 2018. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has opened an investigation into the allegations, which Swalwell denies, calling them politically motivated, according to ARY News and TIME.
In his resignation letter, Swalwell acknowledged “mistakes in judgment” and expressed remorse but also indicated his intent to fight false claims, emphasizing the need to focus on constituent service until his departure, reported by Raw Story. The allegations damaged his standing in California and ended his gubernatorial campaign efforts, per ARY News and Zero Hedge.
Tony Gonzales’s resignation follows a separate set of sexual misconduct claims, prompting threats from congressional members seeking expulsion resolutions against both lawmakers, as The Guardian notes. The bipartisan nature of these resignations underscores growing concerns about misconduct patterns within Congress, observed by Truthout.
Following these departures, attention now turns to the pending investigations and the electoral impact in their respective districts. The vacancies will require special elections, and party leaders face challenges managing the fallout as they consider ethics reforms and preventive measures to address misconduct in the legislative branch.
Eric Swalwell
California
Marco Gonzales
