House Ethics Committee Opens Investigation Into Eric Swalwell

The House Committee on Ethics announced Monday that it was opening an investigation into Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California following multiple allegations of sexual assault and harassment against the congressman, including by a former staffer.

The committee plans to look into whether Swalwell violated the congressional code of conduct “with respect to allegations that he may have engaged in sexual misconduct, including towards an employee working under his supervision,” according to a press release.

The allegations, which Swalwell has denied, were made public Friday in multiple news reports. NOTUS spoke with a woman who worked as a staffer for Swalwell and accused him of sexually assaulting her twice while she was too intoxicated to consent. NOTUS also spoke with a former Capitol Hill intern who alleges she was sexually harassed by the congressman.

The San Francisco Chronicle first reported the allegations.

Following the accusations, Swalwell announced Sunday evening that he would be suspending his campaign for California governor. Calls have been mounting for him to resign from Congress, with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle calling him unfit for office.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office also confirmed on Sunday that it is investigating allegations Swalwell sexually assaulted a former staffer in a New York City hotel room.

Republican Rep. Ana Paulina Luna has said she plans to force a vote to expel Swalwell this week. The motion would need a two-thirds majority to pass.

Several other lawmakers are facing potential expulsion resolutions for their own scandals — Democrat Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández said Sunday that she will force a vote on the expulsion of Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas, who was accused of sexual misconduct earlier this year.

“Both Reps. Tony Gonzales and Eric Swalwell believed it was acceptable to sexually abuse staff and still run for and serve in elected office,” Leger Fernández, who chairs the Democratic Women’s Caucus, wrote in a post on X. “They clearly did not expect there would be any consequences for their actions. Thankfully, the women refused to be silenced.”

Lawmakers have also said they are considering raising votes to expel a pair of Florida lawmakers: Republican Rep. Cory Mills, who is facing a litany of allegations including domestic violence and financial misconduct, and Democrat Rep. Sheila Cherfilus McCormick, who last month was found guilty by the Ethics Committee of violating dozens of House rules, including misusing official funds.