Embattled U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell announced his resignation from Congress on Monday afternoon amid allegations of sexual assault.
In a social media post, Swalwell mentioned his “mistakes in judgement” and said he’d continue to “fight the serious, false allegation made against me.”
He said he is aware of an effort to introduce a motion to expel him from Congress “without due process, within days of an allegation being made.”
He said that effort 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.”
A spokesperson for Swalwell didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Swalwell, D-Castro Valley, announced Sunday that he is withdrawing from the California governor’s race in the wake of sexual harassment and assault allegations against him.
On Monday, House Committee on Ethics Chairman Michael Guest, R-Mississippi, announced that the committee has initiated an investigation into allegations that Swalwell may have “engaged in sexual misconduct, including towards an employee working under his supervision.”
Many local and national political leaders were already calling on Swalwell to leave office voluntarily prior to the start of any ethics investigation and on Sunday, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said she would introduce a motion to expel him from Congress as early as Tuesday or Wednesday.
