resigned<\/a> after at least five women publicly accused him of sexual misconduct and assault in reports first published by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN.<\/p>\n\u201cI will fight the serious, false allegations made against me,\u201d Swalwell wrote in his resignation statement. \u201cHowever, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make.\u201d<\/p>\n
How a Frontrunner Fell in Five Days<\/h1>\n
The allegations surfaced late last week. A former staffer told CNN she was sexually assaulted by Swalwell on two occasions, including one incident that left her \u201cbruised and bleeding.\u201d Three other women alleged unsolicited explicit messages and nude photos via Snapchat. By Sunday, all 21 of Swalwell\u2019s congressional endorsements for the governor\u2019s race had been withdrawn. He suspended the campaign that night.<\/p>\n
The collapse accelerated April 14 when a fifth woman, Lonna Drewes, appeared at a Beverly Hills news conference represented by attorney Lisa Bloom. Drewes alleged Swalwell drugged and assaulted her in a West Hollywood hotel in 2018. \u201cWhen I arrived at his hotel room I was already incapacitated,\u201d she said in remarks carried by multiple outlets. \u201cHe raped me.\u201d Swalwell\u2019s attorney denied all assault allegations.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Congressional Math After His Exit<\/h2>\n
The House Ethics Committee opened a formal investigation April 13. That probe will likely end with his departure. Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna had introduced a resolution to expel Swalwell, but confirmed she withdrew it once his resignation was official. Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas also announced his own resignation the same day, citing an affair with a former staffer who later died by suicide.<\/p>\n
Swalwell\u2019s exit leaves a vacancy in California\u2019s 14th district, a safe Democratic seat east of San Francisco. The special election timeline is at Newsom\u2019s discretion. Democrats head into the November midterms with one fewer House member and a significant reputational story to manage in what is already a challenging election cycle.<\/p>\n
Democratic Party Fallout<\/h2>\n
Senator Adam Schiff, who had endorsed Swalwell\u2019s gubernatorial campaign, told reporters the allegations were \u201cshocking and deeply upsetting,\u201d adding that he believed the resignation was \u201cthe right decision.\u201d No prominent Democrat has publicly disputed that assessment.<\/p>\n
The California governor\u2019s race remains wide open. Swalwell had led several early polls before the scandal surfaced, and his exit reshuffles a Democratic primary that was already crowded with candidates hoping to succeed Newsom.<\/p>\n
<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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