The walls are closing in around Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Ca., who faces a criminal investigation into sexual assault allegations and mounting pressure — not just to abandon his campaign for California governor — but to resign from Congress.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington state, who has long advocated for survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, was one such Democrat on Sunday saying Swalwell should resign or be expelled.
When asked on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday if she thinks Swalwell should abandon the race for governor, Jayapal said, “I absolutely do.”
She also said Swalwell should resign, along with Republican Rep. Tony Gonzalez of Texas, who is under a House ethics probe for a sexual relationship he admitted to having with an aide who later killed herself. “I do think that both of them need to step down from Congress,” Jayapal said.
“What we are seeing now is an emergence of women across the country who have been dismissed, told to shut up, told to move on —who have been abused by men in powerful positions. This is not a partisan issue,” Jayapal said.
Rep. Ro Khanna said Swalwell, a fellow California Democrat, should step down.
“There must be accountability with both House Ethics and law enforcement about the sexual assault, and Eric Swalwell should resign,” Khanna, a leader in Democratic efforts to investigate the Justice Department’s Epstein files, said in a statement on X Sunday after appearing on Fox News.
Rep. James Walkinshaw, D-Va., said he agreed. “His campaign for governor is over whether he realizes it or not,” he said during an appearance on MS NOW’s “Alex Witt Reports” Sunday.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican, announced this weekend that she will push an expulsion resolution this week against Swalwell, saying, “I am not going to serve with these sexual deviants, that is not what Congress is about.”
Swalwell, who was the frontrunner in the California governor’s race to replace current term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. Newsom, seen as a 2028 Democratic presidential contender, has not weighed in on whether Swalwell should resign or at least end his campaign for governor. His office did not immediate respond to MS NOW’s request for comment on Sunday.
But he said in a statement issued Friday, “These allegations from multiple sources are deeply troubling and must be taken seriously.”
Rep. Byron Donalds, a Republican from Florida, said he, too, would support expulsion resolutions for both Gonzalez and Swalwell. “If separate motions to expel the two congressmen come before the House, I will be voting yes on both measures,” Donalds said on “Meet the Press” Sunday.
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The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said on Saturday it launched an investigation into allegations of sexual assault against Swalwell, a one-time presidential candidate.
The main accuser, a former aide to Swalwell who spoke with MS NOW, first told the San Francisco Chronicle that the congressman sexually assaulted her on two separate occasions when she was too intoxicated to consent.
California House Democrats have turned on their colleague. Rep. Ted Lieu announced Friday he was withdrawing his endorsement of Swalwell for governor and Rep. Robert Garcia — another prominent advocate for Epstein survivors — called on Swalwell to quit the race.
Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. withdrew his endorsement of Swalwell as campaign staffers abandoned him in droves. Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Ca., said Saturday that both Swalwell and Gonzalez should resign or face expulsion.
“Swalwell must halt his campaign, resign from office, and face the consequences of a full investigation,” California Rep. Sam Liccardo said Friday.
Senior staff working in Swalwell’s congressional office and on his gubernatorial campaign issued a joint letter over the weekend, saying they are “horrified” by the news reports detailing the sexual assault allegations against their boss and that any decision to remain on payroll “should not be viewed as support for Eric Swalwell.”
“We stand with our former colleague, and the other women who have come forward. We believe you should stand with them, too,” the letter said. “The behavior detailed in these reports is abhorrent, beneath the dignity of those serving in public office and betrays the trust of all Californians.”
Mychael Schnell and Jillian Frankel contributed to this report.
Erum Salam is a breaking news reporter for MS NOW, with a focus on how global events and foreign policy shape U.S. politics. She previously was a breaking news reporter for The Guardian.