WASHINGTON — Fellow Democrats are increasingly urging Eric Swalwell to quit his California governor campaign and resign from Congress, after allegations surfaced that he sexually assaulted a former staffer.
Misryoum newsroom reported that Swalwell has denied the allegations, saying they are “absolutely false.” The pressure escalated as he became a leading contender to replace outgoing Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, with calls growing not just for him to step aside from the race, but also from his House seat.
Over the weekend, some Democrats in Congress began calling for his resignation from the House. A number of them also floated a more dramatic option: expulsion, a rare step that would require the House to vote and reach a two-thirds majority. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said Saturday she would file a motion to start that process.
Democratic support for expulsion was voiced by several California lawmakers. Misryoum editorial desk noted that fellow California Reps. Jared Huffman, Ro Khanna and Sam Liccardo said Swalwell should resign, as did Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández of New Mexico and Pramila Jayapal of Washington state. Jayapal said Sunday the issue “is not a partisan issue,” adding: “This cuts across party lines. And it is depravity of the way that women have been treated.”
The comments were paired with sign-offs and political distancing inside Swalwell’s orbit. Misryoum newsroom reported that Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., who helped run Swalwell’s campaign, said he was immediately ending his role. Schiff and powerful labor unions have also pulled endorsements and called for his exit from the race, according to Misryoum analysis, leaving the campaign teetering.
With the House returning to session Tuesday, the question of whether to expel Swalwell could come to a head quickly. Expulsion votes are rare in practice, but Misryoum editorial team stated there is recent precedent: Republican George Santos of New York was ousted in 2023 as just the sixth member in House history removed for conduct.
In the background, Republicans signaled they would back action against both parties’ figures. Republican Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, running his own gubernatorial bid, said both Swalwell and Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas—who admitted to an affair with a former staff member who later died by suicide—“need to go home,” and that he would vote to expel them both. Khanna also indicated support for congressional action against both lawmakers, saying it “depends on if it’s worded in a fair way,” but that “this shouldn’t be about politics.”
Misryoum newsroom reported details of the allegations also remained in focus. The San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday that a woman said Swalwell sexually assaulted her in 2019 and 2024. Misryoum editorial desk noted the woman said she did not go to police at the time because she feared she would not be believed, and that she was too intoxicated to consent. The Chronicle said the first incident involved her work for Swalwell, while the 2024 incident allegedly occurred at a charity gala in New York. The paper did not name the woman, and Misryoum newsroom reported it has not been able to independently verify her account and identity; her lawyer declined to comment. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said Saturday it was investigating and urged anyone with knowledge to contact its special victims division.
For now, Swalwell’s public response has been firm. Misryoum editorial team noted that after the allegations surfaced, he said Friday in a social media video that he would spend the weekend with family and friends and share an update “very soon.” In the same statement, he said, “These allegations of sexual assault are flat false… They did not happen, they have never happened, and I will fight them with everything that I have.” He is not running for reelection for his House seat.
One sound check for the political mood might have been obvious in the quiet after his denial—distant, the kind of office buzz you notice when someone pauses and you can hear typing again. Pelosi, the former House speaker and a dominant California political figure, said the “serious allegations” must be investigated and that she suggested doing so “outside of a gubernatorial campaign.” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York and his leadership team also called for an investigation and for Swalwell to end his campaign. Jayapal and Donalds appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” and Khanna was interviewed on “Fox News Sunday.” Actually, it’s not clear how long the investigation timeline will take, but the political timetable is already moving.