Swalwell says he plans to resign House seat amid ethics probe

Eric Swalwell.

U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell of California said Monday that he's planning to resign from his seat in the House of Representatives amid a growing controversy over sexual misconduct claims made against him as well as a House Ethics Committee probe. The announcement came less than 24 hours after the beleaguered Democrat abandoned his run for governor of California. 

“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 allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make,” Swalwell said in a statement posted on X explaining his decision. 

“I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members,” he continued. “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.”

Swalwell's fall from grace as been spectacularly swift since the allegations against him emerged on Friday night. Political allies furiously fled the congressman, who was actually the top-polling Democrat in California's governor race, over the last two days. Late Sunday, Swalwell pulled the plug on his campaign. By Monday, the House Ethics Committee had opened an investigation into the criminal allegations made against the 45-year-old Swalwell. And, as he mentioned in his statement, he was facing possible expulsion from the House. Swalwell has denied any criminal wrongdoing. 

His resignation will end a 13-year run in Congress representing California's 14th district, according to CNBC. 

Meanwhile, Swalwell's previous remarks about the importance of believing women when they make sexual misconduct allegations resurfaced, with many pointing out how the comments took on a new hypocritical ring given his denials of the accusations against him. As Dave Rubin pointed out on Monday's episode of The Rubin Report, Swalwell also was one of the loudest voices against Bret Kavanaugh in 2018 after he was nominated by President Trump nominated him to be a Supreme Court Justice. Below, watch a compilation of Swalwell's remarks over the years.