Swalwell Faces Big Push to Leave Congress Over Allegations
Eric Swalwell Faces Expulsion Amid Sexual Assault Allegations
Key Issue:
Eric Swalwell, a leading contender for California governor, is being urged to resign his U.S. House seat after allegations of sexual assault surfaced.Allegations & Response:
A former staffer from his district office claims she was sexually assaulted by Swalwell. CNN reports three additional women made similar accusations.
Swalwell denies the claims and vows to contest them.
- Political Fallout:
- Democratic colleagues on TV have called for his resignation.
- Representative Byron Donalds and Pramila Jayapal pledged to vote for his expulsion if a motion is filed.
- Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna plans to file an expulsion motion next week.
Other Democrats have already urged the removal of members facing misconduct investigations, such as Tony Gonzales.
Legal Status:
A Manhattan district attorney’s office has opened an investigation into the allegations.Implications for the Party:
The mounting pressure threatens to damage the Democratic Party’s image and divert attention from critical policy issues as Swalwell’s gubernatorial bid heats up.
