Reps. Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales Resign from Congress Ahead of Possible Expulsion Votes

Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales have resigned from Congress, stepping down just before lawmakers were expected to initiate expulsion proceedings against them.

The sudden departures came as pressure mounted from both Democrats and Republicans, making it increasingly difficult for either lawmaker to remain in office. By resigning, the two avoided what would have been a rare and highly public expulsion vote on the House floor.

Swalwell, a California Democrat, is facing allegations of sexual misconduct, including accusations of sexual assault from a former staffer. He has denied the claims but acknowledged “mistakes in judgment” in his resignation letter. His departure follows a House Ethics Committee investigation and additional scrutiny from prosecutors.

Gonzales, a Texas Republican, resigned amid a separate ethics investigation. He previously acknowledged having an affair with a staff member who later died by suicide and has also faced allegations involving inappropriate communications, which he has not publicly addressed.

House leaders from both parties signaled support for the resignations. Mike Johnson and Hakeem Jeffries both indicated the lawmakers made the right decision to step aside.

Behind the scenes, lawmakers had been preparing bipartisan efforts to force expulsion votes if the two did not resign. Expelling a member of Congress is rare and requires a two-thirds majority vote in the House.

The resignations also help maintain the current balance of power in the closely divided chamber, avoiding a potentially contentious and precedent-setting process.

Despite the departures, investigations into other members of Congress are ongoing, signaling that scrutiny and accountability efforts on Capitol Hill are far from over.

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