Facing separate scandals and mounting bipartisan criticism, two congressmen quit office
Rep. Eric Swalwell, the California Democrat accused of sexual misconduct and raping a woman who worked in his congressional office, resigned from Congress on Monday.
His decision followed a chorus of House lawmakers threatening to expel not only Mr. Swalwell but also several other lawmakers facing claims of wrongdoing.
One of them, Rep. Tony Gonzales, Texas Republican, followed Mr. Swalwell’s lead and resigned his seat.
Mr. Gonzales was under a House Ethics Committee investigation of an alleged affair with a young female staffer who committed suicide by setting herself on fire.
Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, is seen …
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“There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all. When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office. It has been my privilege to serve the great people of Texas,” Mr. Gonzales said in a statement. He was not running for reelection.
Mr. Swalwell denied allegations of sexual misconduct but faced mounting pressure from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to step down or face a swift House vote to expel him.
The House Ethics Committee announced an investigation into the claims against Mr. Swalwell on Monday, and his longtime friend and Democratic colleague, Rep Ruben Gallego, of Arizona, called him “no longer fit to serve in Congress.”
He said Mr. Swalwell should be expelled.
Mr. Swalwell signaled in his statement that he had little choice but to resign immediately.
“I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegations made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make,” he wrote on social media. “I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members. Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But it’s also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress,” he said.
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., listens during …
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His announcement brings to a crashing halt a political career that spanned six terms in Congress and a monthslong campaign to become California’s next governor. The married father of three had led the Democratic field but trailed the two Republican candidates. He abandoned his bid for the governor’s mansion on Sunday after calls from Democratic Party leaders that he quit the race.
Mr. Swalwell’s alleged behavior was reportedly a well-known secret in Washington. Over the weekend, however, bombshell allegations were laid bare in several news outlets, prompting widespread condemnation from his own staff.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday that Mr. Swalwell was accused of sexually assaulting a former employee twice when she was too intoxicated to consent. The first incident was in 2019. CNN reported that three other women said he engaged in nonconsensual sex or sent inappropriate messages, including nude photos.
Adam Parkhomenko said his wife, Ally Sammarco, went on the record “so that hopefully this did not happen to other women and maybe it would help other women come forward.”
Mr. Parkhomenko said his wife provided CNN with messages Mr. Swalwell had sent her.
Mr. Swalwell apologized Sunday to his family, staff and supporters for “mistakes in judgment” but called the allegations of sexual assault “false.”
He is facing a sexual assault investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. A former staffer said that, after getting drunk with Mr. Swalwell, she woke up to him raping her in his New York City hotel room.
“I was pushing him off of me, saying no,” she told CNN. “He didn’t stop.”
Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., testifies at …
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Before his resignation, lawmakers were threatening to purge the House of others accused of serious misbehavior. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, Florida Republican, can take some credit for Mr. Swalwell and Mr. Gonzales stepping down.
She said she planned to bring up a vote to oust Mr. Swalwell this week and would pair it with a resolution to expel Mr. Gonzales.
Ms. Luna’s announcement set the stage for an even bigger purge by lawmakers calling for resolutions to oust others, among them Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Florida Democrat facing a rare Ethics Committee public hearing and federal charges over using millions of dollars in disaster relief money to fund her congressional campaigns.
Lawmakers could also target Rep. Cory Mills, a Florida Republican under an Ethics Committee investigation for campaign finance violations, misusing congressional office funds and claims of sexual misconduct.
“Congress should not tolerate representatives who abuse staff, betray public trust for personal gain, and generally violate their oath of office,” said Rep. Nydia Velazquez, a veteran New York Democrat. “Reps. Swalwell, Gonzales, Cherfilus-McCormick, and Mills should resign. If they refuse, they should be expelled.”
After Mr. Swalwell’s announcement that he planned to leave Congress, Ms. Luna and others called on Mr. Gonzales to resign and chided Mr. Swalwell for his statement.
“Eric, you did the right thing by resigning. However, don’t you dare say there weren’t grounds for your expulsion because there absolutely were. He made the correct decision, but there still needs to be a full-fledged criminal investigation. Based on what I’m hearing, he may go to jail,” Ms. Luna posted on social media.
Mr. Swalwell represents California’s 14th Congressional District. He won reelection to the seat in 2024 by 35 percentage points.
The House clerk will announce the vacancies Tuesday and assume control of both offices, overseeing constituent services handled by staffers.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom must schedule a special election to fill Mr. Swalwell’s seat within 14 days of declaring a vacancy.
It will be up to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to decide when to call a special election to fill the remainder of the term vacated by Mr. Gonzales.
