Eric SwalwellThe California Democrat has been accused by several women of sexual misconduct and assault. As a result, Swalwell announced that he would resign from Congress and apologized to his family, further fanning the flames of controversy.
“I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and voters for the errors in judgment I have made in the past,” Swalwell wrote in a public statement, before adding: “I will fight the dangerous and false accusations against me. However, I must accept responsibility for the errors I have made.”
Noting that he was “aware of efforts to hold an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members,” Swalwell noted that “expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But it is also wrong for my constituents to distract me from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign from my seat in Congress.”
After several women, including a former Swalwell employee, came forward with the accusations, he denied them.
“These allegations are false and come on the eve of the election against the front-runner for governor,” Swalwell told CNN in a statement. “For nearly 20 years, I have served the public – as a prosecutor and a member of Congress and have always protected women. I will defend myself with the facts and file a lawsuit when necessary. My focus in the days ahead is to be with my wife and children and defend our decades of service against these lies.”
Here, we break down Swalwell’s accusations, his resignation from Congress, and all the controversy it has sparked.
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— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) April 13, 2026
Why did Eric Swalwell resign from Congress?
Swalwell said in a public statement that he chose to resign from his seat in Congress because “it was wrong for my constituents to distract me from my duties.”
Is Eric Swalwell still running for governor of California?
Swalwell suspended his bid for governor of California on April 12, 2026. The next day, the House Ethics Committee announced its plans to investigate the allegations against him. However, this investigation will now end, since the committee has jurisdiction over current members only.
Eric Swalwell’s accusations explained
Multiple women have come forward with sexual misconduct allegations against Swalwell, including a former employee who accused him of rape. The unnamed former employee claimed that Swalwell sexually assaulted her twice while she was too intoxicated to consent to anything.
Two other women alleged that Swalwell sent them unwanted photos of genitals, and a fourth woman claimed that he kissed her in public without her consent.
A fifth woman named Luna Darwaiz She claimed during a press conference on April 14 that Stallwell raped and strangled her in 2018.
Darwaiz claimed that “while he was suffocating me, I lost consciousness,” before adding: “I thought I was dead.” Drewes also indicated that she had been in contact with Stallwell before the alleged sexual assault.
“He offered me connections to promote my software company,” she claimed. However, in the third encounter, Droz claimed that Stallwell “tried my drink,” lured her to his hotel room, and then raped her. “I would never have engaged in a consensual sexual encounter with Eric Swalwell,” she added.
Is Eric Swalwell married?
Yes, Swalwell is married to his wife, Brittany WattsSince 2016. He was previously married to his ex-wife. Melissa Marandafrom 2007 to 2010.
Does Eric Swalwell have children?
Yes, Swalwell has three children with Watts.
Who is Stephen Klubek? His relationship with Swalwell
Steven Klubek He is a billionaire businessman and CEO of Diamond Resorts. He previously ran a campaign for governor of California ahead of the 2026 election. He ended his campaign approximately six months before the primary.
Klubek invested more than $1 million in Swalwell’s candidacy and allowed him to remain inside his Beverly Hills mansion. However, that changed after sexual misconduct allegations surfaced. In a statement to New York PostKlubek said he “no longer supports Eric.”
“King, tell everyone I’m a libertarian,” Klubek said, before adding: “Fuck you, Democratic Party. I’m a libertarian now.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, call this number National Sexual Assault Hotline At 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). A trained staff member will provide confidential, judgment-free support as well as local resources to assist with healing, recovery and more.
