California governor candidate Eric Swalwell has resigned from Congress and suspended his campaign amidst new sex abuse accusations.
Swalwell announced the news on X via a short post. “I am suspending my campaign for Governor,” he wrote. “To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for the mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s.”
In an official statement that he also shared on X via another account, Swalwell announced he "must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make.”
“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 announcements come days after he was accused of rape by a former staffer, who alleged that he assaulted her while she was heavily intoxicated. Three other women accused him of sexual misconduct, which led to his Democratic supporters withdrawing their endorsements for his campaign.
On Apr. 10, Swalwell addressed the allegations in a post on X, revealing his intent to “fight” them.
“A lot has been said about me today through anonymous allegations, and I thought it was important that you see and hear from me directly,” he said. “These allegations of sexual assault are flat-out false. They are absolutely false. They did not happen. They have never happened. And I will fight them with everything that I have.”
“For over 20 years, I have served the public as a city councilman, as a member of Congress, and as a prosecutor who went to court on behalf of victims, particularly on behalf of sexual assault victims,” Swalwell added. “That’s who I am and have always been.”
