Swalwell & Gonzales officially resign from House

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) officially resigned from Congress on Tuesday after being accused of sexual misconduct.

The House clerk read the formal resignation notices on Tuesday afternoon. Swalwell’s notice was effective at 2 p.m. and Gonzales will take effect at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday night.

The two lawmakers made their departures final about a day after they announced plans to resign and under the continued threat of expulsion from their colleagues.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, (D-NM) both said that they planned to file votes to expel Swalwell and Gonzales if they did not resign by Tuesday.

“Public outrage, together with resolutions that I was going to file, and [Rep.] Luna was going to file to force a vote on expelling Swalwell and Gonzalez from Congress for their sexual abuse of women, forced their resignation,” said Rep. Leger Fernández in a video posted on X.

Swalwell began facing accusations of sexual assault and misconduct in recent days, prompting both the resignation and the suspension of his California gubernatorial campaign.

An attorney for Swalwell, Sara Azari, said in a statement that he “categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation of sexual misconduct and assault that has been leveled against him.”

Rep. Gonzales admitted in March to having an affair with a staff member who later died by suicide. He initially said he planned to serve out the rest of his term but changed his position by Monday.

The departure of one Republican and one Democrat does not dramatically change up the GOP’s narrow control of the House. After Swalwell and Gonzales’ departure and the swearing in of new Rep. Clay Fuller (R-GA) on Tuesday night, the House has 217 Republicans, 213 Democrats and one independent who causes with Republicans. There are also currently four vacancies in the House.

However, special elections to fill the seats may impact the margin GOP’s House control, depending on the timing and outcome of them, which are determined by the governors of California and Texas.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) has called for a special election on Aug. 18 to fill the seat previously held by Swalwell.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) has not yet called a special election for the seat that Gonzales held. By state law, the governor must fill the seat by the next general election day, which is in November. But the governor could also call an emergency special election for the seat if he chooses to do so.

Some congressional lawmakers have also spoken out about the possibility of expelling two other House lawmakers accused of wrongdoing including Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) and Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL).

In March, the House Ethics Committee found that Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick violated campaign finance rules. She is also facing criminal charges related to the use of federal funds. The congresswoman has denied any wrongdoing.

Rep. Mills is under a House Ethics Committee investigation for alleged sexual misconduct and campaign finance violations. He has also denied any wrongdoing.