Representatives Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales resigned from the U.S. House of Representatives on April 14, 2026, narrowly avoiding public expulsion votes as they faced separate, high-profile scandals involving allegations of sexual misconduct.
The resignations, announced within minutes of each other on the evening of April 13, came as lawmakers from both parties pushed for immediate accountability. The departures of the California Democrat and Texas Republican effectively ended investigations by the House Ethics Committee, which only maintains jurisdiction over sitting members of Congress.
The simultaneous exits underscore a volatile period in the Capitol, where sexual violence allegations have shaken the institution and exposed a culture of silence that has as well touched a senator of Colombian origin.
Representative Eric Swalwell faced severe accusations, including a report from a California woman who claims she was raped by the congressman in 2018. The woman alleged she was drugged, raped, and strangled in a hotel room. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office has launched an investigation into Swalwell regarding an alleged assault in New York.
In a resignation letter addressed to Speaker Mike Johnson, Swalwell admitted to “errors of judgment” in the past but vowed to fight what he called “grave and false” accusations. His attorney, Sara Azari, issued a statement categorically denying all allegations of sexual misconduct and assault. The political fallout from his departure has already restarted the race for a new governor in California.
Representative Tony Gonzales’s departure followed bipartisan calls for his removal. Gonzales had previously admitted to an extramarital affair with a staff member who subsequently took her own life. Under House ethics rules, sexual relationships between members of Congress and their subordinates are prohibited. Republican leadership had already pressured Gonzales not to seek re-election to ensure the party could maintain control of his heavily Republican district.
These abuse allegations have intensified calls for a broader reckoning within the legislative branch.
The timing of the resignations is particularly significant as the U.S. Approaches midterm elections. With both seats now vacant, the Republican Party has gained a slim majority in the House, now holding 216 seats compared to 213 for the Democrats.
