Rep. Eric Swalwell has resigned from Congress following a cascade of sexual misconduct allegations that derailed his campaign for California governor and triggered bipartisan calls for his departure.
CNN reported that four women described incidents of sexual misconduct by the Democratic congressman, including a former staffer who alleged he raped her. The San Francisco Chronicle published a separate account from the ex-staffer detailing sexual assault. Swalwell had been running for governor at the time the allegations surfaced.
Axios first reported the resignation announcement, which came swiftly after the allegations became public. The speed of Swalwell's exit reflected the severity of the accusations and the rapid erosion of political support within his own party. CNBC confirmed that the resignation is effective immediately.
The fallout has reshaped the California governor's race, which now moves forward without one of its most prominent candidates. Swalwell, who has represented parts of the San Francisco Bay Area since 2013, did not directly address the specific allegations in his resignation statement. Law enforcement involvement, if any, has not been publicly confirmed.
