Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., announced Monday that he intends to resign from Congress following sexual assault and misconduct allegations that prompted bipartisan calls for his removal and a newly launched House Ethics Committee investigation. In a statement posted to X, Swalwell said he was aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against him and cited concern that the controversy would distract him from serving his constituents in California's 14th congressional district. He did not specify an exact date for his departure.

Swalwell apologized to his family, staff and constituents for what he called "mistakes in judgment" while maintaining that at least some of the allegations against him were false. "I will fight the serious, false allegations made against me. However, I must take responsibility for the mistakes I did make," he wrote. His announcement came one day after he suspended his campaign for governor of California, and shortly after Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., a close Swalwell ally who chaired his 2020 presidential campaign, said publicly that Swalwell was "no longer fit" to serve in Congress. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Monday night that Swalwell had made the right decision.

Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, also announced Monday that he is retiring from Congress after the House Ethics Committee opened a probe into his conduct involving a romantic relationship with a former staffer who later died by suicide. Gonzales, who had already ended his re-election bid last month, said he would file his retirement paperwork when Congress returned. A second former staffer had separately told NBC News this month that Gonzales sent her sexually explicit text messages while she worked for him. Both the Swalwell and Gonzales Ethics Committee investigations will end upon their departures, as the committee holds jurisdiction only over sitting members.

The dual resignations come as Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., had been organizing expulsion votes targeting Swalwell and Gonzales along with two other lawmakers. Swalwell has represented California's 14th district since 2013. Under California law, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom will determine whether and when to hold a special election to fill Swalwell's seat, though the timeline remains unclear. Swalwell's exit from the California governor's race further unsettles a Democratic primary already lacking a clear front-runner, with former Rep. Katie Porter and billionaire activist Tom Steyer seen as the leading candidates to consolidate his supporters ahead of an approaching top-two primary.