Two Congressmen Resigned Before They Could Be Expelled. Here’s What Happened.
The big picture: Reps. Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales both resigned from Congress yesterday — one facing rape and sexual assault allegations, the other linked to a staffer’s suicide — just hours before an expulsion resolution was set to be introduced.
Why it matters: This is a rare bipartisan accountability moment. But the real stakes aren’t political — they’re human. Multiple women were assaulted, one woman is dead, and criminal charges may still be coming for at least one of them.
Swalwell’s collapse
Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped out of the California governor’s race after CNN and the San Francisco Chronicle reported that four women accused him of sexual assault and one accused him of rape. He maintained his innocence on the most serious charge but acknowledged “mistakes” and resigned, saying he didn’t want to distract from his duties. BUT the timing tells a different story — an expulsion resolution was set to drop today, and reports say that’s what triggered his exit.
Gonzales and a staffer’s death
Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales admitted to making advances toward staffer Regina Santos-Aviles, who later committed suicide. He called it a “lapse in judgment” and dropped out of his primary runoff. Then a second allegation surfaced — that he pursued another staffer for nude photos and sex in 2020. He resigned yesterday, posting about God’s plan. Fernandez’s office had made clear: resign now or face the expulsion vote.
It might not be over for Swalwell
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna claimed she received forensic evidence that a hotel room video of Swalwell was real and not AI-generated, AND that the person who recorded it may have been underage. FBI Director Kash Patel has publicly invited Swalwell to come talk. If any of this holds up, resignation is the least of his problems.
By the numbers
2 — members of Congress who resigned in one day
5 — women who have accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct
1 — former staffer of Gonzales who died by suicide
0 — net change in House majority (one Democrat, one Republican)
The bottom line
The political math is neutral. The human cost is not. Multiple women assaulted, one life lost, and the possibility of criminal charges still looming. The resignations may end two congressional careers, but for the people harmed, this is far from over.
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