In a stunning development that has upended California political circles, long-serving Democratic U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell has formally stepped down from his congressional seat, capping a turbulent week that saw him abandon his bid for California governor amid mounting public and political pressure over multiple sexual misconduct allegations.
The 12-year House incumbent, who represented a Bay Area district adjacent to San Francisco after first winning election in 2012, announced his resignation in a public letter published to the social platform X. In the statement, Swalwell acknowledged poor past judgment while pushing back against the most severe claims leveled against him. “I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgement I’ve made in my past,” the statement read. “I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistake I did make.”
The crisis that led to Swalwell’s exit erupted last week, when four women came forward with accusations of misconduct spanning a range of behavior, from unwanted sexual advances to rape. The claims triggered an official ethics inquiry by the U.S. House of Representatives, which was already underway when Swalwell made the decision to resign. Prior to his departure from Congress, the lawmaker had already suspended his campaign for the California governorship amid plummeting support from voters and growing calls from within his own party to step aside.
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