Reps. Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales Depart Congress Amid Serious Allegations
WASHINGTON — In a significant political shift, Reps. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., and Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, announced their resignations from Congress on Tuesday, sidestepping an impending expulsion effort by their peers.
Both representatives faced separate House Ethics investigations concerning allegations of sexual misconduct, including claims involving former staff members, which breach established House protocols. Their resignations effectively terminate these investigations, as the Ethics Committee's authority extends only to current members.
However, law enforcement inquiries may persist; notably, the Manhattan district attorney's office has initiated a probe into Swalwell regarding an alleged assault in New York.
On the same day, a woman accused Swalwell of drugging, raping, and choking her in a California hotel room back in 2018. Her legal team indicated she intended to report the incident to authorities shortly thereafter.
“Congressman Eric Swalwell categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation of sexual misconduct and assault that has been leveled against him," stated his attorney, Sara Azari. "These accusations are false, fabricated, and deeply offensive — a calculated and transparent political hit job designed to destroy the reputation of a man who has spent twenty years in public service,” she added.
Azari expressed confidence that the truth would emerge and vowed to pursue all legal avenues against those behind what she termed a “reprehensible campaign of lies.”
Swalwell had previously acknowledged making "mistakes" but firmly rejected the sexual assault allegations as untrue. His resignation took effect at 2 p.m. ET, while Gonzales' resignation was set for 11:59 p.m. ET on the same day.
With both lawmakers stepping down, Republicans now hold a 216-213 majority over Democrats. This shift was further solidified when Clay Fuller of Georgia was sworn in to replace former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, increasing the GOP majority to 217-213.
The simultaneous resignations of Swalwell and Gonzales mark a troubling period for Capitol Hill. Gonzales, who entered Congress in 2020, faced persistent rumors and allegations of sexual misconduct since last September, particularly following the tragic suicide of his staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles.
Text messages obtained by various sources revealed that Gonzales had sent Santos-Aviles sexually explicit communications in May 2024. He later admitted to having an affair with her while she was under his supervision.
Another former staff member alleged that Gonzales had also sent her inappropriate messages, soliciting sex and nude photographs. A spokesperson for Gonzales did not respond to these claims. Although he announced he would not seek re-election in March, the unfolding scandal prompted him to resign early to avoid an expulsion vote.
Swalwell's rapid decline from political prominence was stark. Just last week, he was a frontrunner in California's governor race. However, a report from a local publication detailed allegations from a young woman who claimed she had a sexual encounter with Swalwell while employed by him and later faced sexual assault when intoxicated. CNN corroborated this account with additional testimonies from other accusers.
A source familiar with the situation confirmed the accuracy of these reports but requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of ongoing legal proceedings.
Swalwell acknowledged past errors but denied the assault allegations. He withdrew from the governor's race on Sunday and announced his resignation on Monday.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has called for a special election on August 18 to fill Swalwell's vacated seat in the 14th Congressional District. It remains uncertain whether Texas Governor Greg Abbott will follow suit regarding Gonzales' position.
Upon returning to Capitol Hill after a two-week recess, House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed that both resignations were appropriate given the circumstances surrounding the allegations.
“My views have been made known about the terrible allegations that were made and obviously the facts that they both admitted to,” Johnson remarked.
As attention shifts to other alleged misconduct within Congress, two Florida representatives are under scrutiny: Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Democrat, and Rep. Cory Mills, a Republican.
Johnson indicated that there is likely consensus among House members regarding Cherfilus-McCormick's potential expulsion following findings of 25 violations related to misappropriation of federal relief funds for her campaign. She has denied these allegations and pleaded not guilty in a related criminal case.
Regarding Mills, Johnson stated he was unsure about the status of ongoing investigations into his conduct, which includes financial and sexual misconduct allegations. Mills has denied any wrongdoing.
Mills asserted in an interview that he does not belong in the same category as Swalwell and Gonzales due to his marital status and lack of complaints against him from staffers or interns.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries supported Swalwell's decision to resign but kept details of their discussions private. He also mentioned he would consider Cherfilus-McCormick's situation after receiving recommendations from the Ethics Committee.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez expressed her belief that Cherfilus-McCormick should be expelled if she does not resign, aligning her stance with the Ethics Committee's findings.
The Ethics panel is expected to announce its recommended sanctions for Cherfilus-McCormick at an upcoming hearing on April 21, after which the full House may take action. Expelling a member requires a two-thirds vote — a rare occurrence that last happened in late 2023 when Rep. George Santos was ousted following serious ethical violations and criminal charges.
