Who is Eric Swalwell, Democrat who resigned from US Congress over sexual assault allegations?

The resignation of Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell has brought to a halt the career of a once-prominent lawmaker amid a growing list of allegations and investigations.

Facing accusations of sexual misconduct from multiple women, a formal ethics probe, and bipartisan calls for his removal, Swalwell’s decision to step down marks a turning point in a controversy that escalated rapidly over just a few days.

From rising Democrat to embattled lawmaker

Swalwell, a California Democrat, first entered the US House of Representatives after being elected in 2012 and began serving in 2013.

Over time, he built a reputation as a visible and vocal member of his party, frequently appearing in national media and aligning himself with party leadership on key issues.

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He played a central role during the impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump during his first term, particularly during the US president’s second impeachment trial in 2021.

Swalwell was selected by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to serve as an impeachment manager, tasked with presenting the Democratic case in the Senate.

His ambitions extended beyond Congress. In 2020, he launched a brief campaign for the presidency, further raising his national profile. More recently, he sought to become governor of California and was, at one stage, considered a frontrunner heading into the state’s June 2 primary election.

However, within days, that upward trajectory unravelled.

How allegations emerged

The controversy surrounding Swalwell began intensifying after reports by CNN and the San Francisco Chronicle detailed allegations from multiple women.

At the centre of the accusations is a former staffer who claimed that Swalwell sexually assaulted her during an encounter that followed a night of drinking, asserting that she was not in a position to provide consent.

The reports indicated that three additional women came forward with claims of inappropriate behaviour. These included allegations that the congressman sent unsolicited explicit images and sexually suggestive messages.

Among those who publicly accused Swalwell was influencer Ally Sammarco, who described an interaction that began with political discussions but gradually became personal.

According to her account, the communication shifted to late-night exchanges, compliments about her appearance, and requests to meet. She alleged that Swalwell sent images of himself, including shirtless photos and eventually explicit content.

Sammarco also claimed that the congressman demonstrated a heightened personal interest, asking questions about her living arrangements and, on occasion, visiting her neighbourhood.

She also alleged that he would sometimes arrive at her apartment building, greet her briefly, and then leave. In addition, she stated that he once gave her a private tour of the US Capitol.

The allegations also include claims that Swalwell sexually assaulted a woman on two occasions, including during a period when she was employed in his office. Two other women reportedly described experiences involving unsolicited explicit messages or images.

Swalwell has denied the allegations of sexual assault. In response to the claims, he described them as “absolutely false” and indicated his intention to challenge them.

Adam Parkhomenko, the husband of Ally Sammarco, issued a pointed warning regarding any potential response from the congressman or his legal team.

“...If Eric Swalwell or his attorney makes a single statement that disparages my wife, I will be filing a lawsuit against him,” Parkhomenko said, adding, “I’ve already made clear that if he believes anything I’ve said is untrue, he should sue me immediately.”

How Washington reacted

US lawmakers from both parties began calling for Swalwell to step aside, citing the seriousness of the allegations and the need for accountability.

A significant development came when more than 50 of Swalwell’s former staffers signed an open letter urging him to resign from Congress and withdraw from the gubernatorial race. The letter characterised the accusations as credible and emphasised the importance of addressing them.

“The allegations reported by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN are serious, credible, and demand accountability,” the letter stated. “We stand unequivocally with our colleague, who showed extraordinary courage in coming forward to share her truth. We believe her.”

The signatories argued that continuing in public office or as a candidate while the allegations remained unresolved would be inappropriate.

“Remaining in either role while these allegations hang unresolved is an insult to every person who has ever worked for him,” they wrote.

Prominent Democratic figures also weighed in. Representatives such as Pramila Jayapal, Ro Khanna, and Eugene Vindman publicly stated that Swalwell should step down from Congress.

Khanna, speaking in a television interview, described the situation in stark terms, “What he did is sick and disgusting,” while also calling for investigations by both law enforcement and the House ethics panel.

Pressure also came from close allies. Senator Ruben Gallego, who had previously chaired Swalwell’s 2020 presidential campaign, expressed his support for an ethics investigation and went further by advocating for his removal from office.

“I support the ethics committee’s investigation and believe Eric Swalwell is no longer fit to be a Member of Congress. He should be expelled from Congress,” Gallego said. “I trusted someone who I believed was a friend, but it is now clear that he is not the person I thought I knew.”

Gallego later recounted a direct conversation with Swalwell following the emergence of the allegations. “As soon as I got in the car, I told him, ‘Take care of your family, get out,’”

On the Republican side, lawmakers including Anna Paulina Luna signalled their intention to pursue formal action if Swalwell did not resign voluntarily. Luna indicated she would introduce a motion to expel him from Congress.

Representative Byron Donalds also expressed support for removing Swalwell, stating that he believed the congressman should leave office.

Suspension of Swalwell's gubernatorial campaign

Before announcing his resignation from Congress, Swalwell had already taken a significant step by suspending his campaign for governor of California.

At the time, he acknowledged past errors in judgement while maintaining his innocence regarding the most serious allegations.

"To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past," he wrote in a post on X. "I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made - but that's my fight, not a campaign's."

Replying to this post on X, tech billionaire Elon Musk quipped, "Bro, you should definitely fight those “false allegations”, especially all the videos of you doing weird shit with hookers."

The decision to withdraw from the race came just days after media reports brought the allegations into the public domain. It also followed a period during which the claims had circulated in less substantiated forms on social media.

Prior to the publication of the reports, Swalwell’s campaign had issued a strong denial, attributing the accusations to political opponents.

“This false, outrageous rumor is being spread 27 days before an election begins by flailing opponents who have sadly teamed up with Maga conspiracy theorists because they know Eric Swalwell is the frontrunner in this race,” said campaign communications director Micah Beasley.

How an ethics probe was initiated

As the controversy deepened, the House Ethics Committee initiated an investigation into the allegations. At the same time, discussions began among lawmakers about the possibility of expelling Swalwell from Congress — a rare and severe disciplinary measure.

While it was unclear whether such an effort would ultimately succeed, the fact that members of both parties were considering it underscored the seriousness of the situation.

Some Democrats were reportedly weighing their support for expulsion in conjunction with similar action against Republican lawmakers facing separate allegations.

The possibility of a floor vote added urgency to the situation, contributing to Swalwell’s decision to step down.

Ongoing investigations by law enforcement

The allegations against Swalwell have also prompted investigations by multiple law enforcement agencies. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office confirmed that it is examining the sexual assault claims involving the former staffer, which are alleged to have occurred in New York.

In California, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office stated that it is reviewing whether any criminal conduct took place within its jurisdiction, including a separate alleged incident in 2019.

Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security has become involved in a separate matter.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services confirmed that it had referred allegations concerning the possible illegal employment of a Brazilian nanny to law enforcement authorities.

“These allegations are serious. USCIS has referred this matter to the Department of Homeland Security law enforcement for investigation,” a spokesperson said.

Swalwell's previous controversies

This is not the first time Swalwell has faced scrutiny during his political career. In 2023, then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy denied him seats on the House Intelligence Committee, along with fellow Democrat Adam Schiff.

In a letter explaining the decision to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, McCarthy wrote, “I cannot put partisan loyalty ahead of national security, and I cannot simply recognize years of service as the sole criteria for membership on this essential committee. Integrity matters more.”

A separate House Ethics Committee probe on Swalwell unrelated to the misconduct allegations was closed in 2023 without taking action. That inquiry had been initiated following claims that Swalwell had been targeted by a suspected Chinese intelligence operative.

“Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong,” Swalwell said in a statement posted to X on Monday. “But it’s also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress.”

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As far as the California Governor race is concerned, the contest, held under California’s open primary system, would have allowed the top two candidates — regardless of party affiliation — to advance to the general election.

The other Democratic candidates include former US Representative Katie Porter, billionaire activist Tom Steyer and San Jose mayor Matt Mahan.

With inputs from agencies