Rep. Eric Swalwell of California and Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas moved toward the exits on Capitol Hill this week as separate sexual misconduct controversies engulfed both lawmakers, intensifying pressure on House leaders already facing renewed scrutiny over ethics enforcement on Capitol Hill.
Swalwell, a Democrat and former California gubernatorial candidate, announced that he would resign from Congress after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct, including allegations of sexual assault that he has denied. His decision came after days of bipartisan calls for him to step down and the opening of a House Ethics Committee investigation.
Gonzales, a Republican from Texas, separately said he would retire from Congress amid mounting bipartisan pressure and an ethics inquiry tied to an admitted affair with a former aide. That investigation centered on whether Gonzales violated House rules barring sexual relationships with staff members under a lawmaker’s supervision.
Together, the two cases delivered another blow to a House already wrestling with questions about internal accountability and member conduct. While the allegations against the two men are unrelated, both controversies triggered ethics scrutiny and prompted lawmakers in both parties to openly discuss removal or other disciplinary action.
Swalwell’s fall was especially swift. Once viewed as a serious contender in California’s 2026 governor’s race, he suspended that campaign before announcing he would leave Congress, saying the accusations had made it impossible to continue serving effectively. Reuters and the Associated Press reported that the allegations included claims from multiple women, among them a former staffer, and that prosecutors in Manhattan were examining at least one allegation tied to New York.
In a statement, Swalwell attorney Sara Azari said, “Congressman Eric Swalwell categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation of sexual misconduct and assault that has been leveled against him. These accusations are false, fabricated, and deeply offensive — a calculated and transparent political hit job designed to destroy the reputation of a man who has spent twenty years in public service.” Reuters reported that Swalwell has denied the most serious allegations while acknowledging unspecified “mistakes in judgment.”
Gonzales’ case followed a different path. He had already announced last month that he would not seek reelection after admitting to an affair with a former aide, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, whose death by suicide intensified scrutiny of the relationship. In the days since, pressure escalated, with lawmakers in both parties pushing for stronger action as the House Ethics Committee examined possible sexual misconduct and favoritism within his office.
Unlike Swalwell, Gonzales had initially planned to serve out the rest of his term. But according to the AP, he later said he would file retirement paperwork when Congress returned from recess, signaling that he, too, would leave office before the ethics process could fully play out.
The departures, though politically explosive, are not expected to dramatically reshape control of the House because both seats are viewed as likely to remain with their current parties in eventual replacement contests. Still, the dual scandals have refocused attention on how aggressively House leaders police member misconduct and whether ethics rules carry real consequences once investigations become public.
