Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell and Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales submitted their resignation letters to the House clerk on Tuesday, ending their terms amid sexual misconduct allegations. Swalwell's letter specified his resignation effective at 2 p.m. ET, while Gonzales' took effect at 11:59 p.m. ET. The House clerk read these notices aloud during floor proceedings, marking the immediate departure of both lawmakers.
Lonna Drewes accused Swalwell of drugging, raping, and choking her in a West Hollywood hotel room in 2018 during a news conference in Beverly Hills. Drewes stated that Swalwell invited her to a political event but led her to his hotel, where she said, "I believe he drugged my drink. I only had one glass of wine." Swalwell's attorney, Sara Azari, responded with a statement denying the claims, calling them "false, fabricated, and deeply offensive" and a "political hit job."
Gonzales admitted in March to an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide. He announced his resignation in a post on X, saying, "There is a season for everything, and God has a plan for us all." This decision followed pressure from colleagues, including Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, who told Axios she supported his expulsion if he did not step down.
Sen. Ruben Gallego stated that Swalwell "lied to all of us," referring to their close friendship that "clouded my judgment" about rumors of misconduct. Gallego, who served with Swalwell for a decade, emphasized in a news conference that he had "no knowledge of predatory behavior." Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene claimed that "more members of Congress" face similar accusations, highlighting broader ethical issues on Capitol Hill.
Swalwell's exit from California's 14th congressional district and Gonzales' from Texas's 23rd will trigger special elections, as aides to governors Gavin Newsom and Greg Abbott weigh their options.
Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell and Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales submitted their resignation letters to the House clerk on Tuesday, ending their terms amid sexual misconduct allegations. Swalwell's letter specified his resignation effective at 2 p.m. ET, while Gonzales' took effect at 11:59 p.m. ET. The House clerk read these notices aloud during floor proceedings, marking the immediate departure of both lawmakers and reducing the GOP majority by one seat.
Lonna Drewes accused Swalwell of drugging, raping, and choking her in a West Hollywood hotel room in 2018 during a news conference in Beverly Hills. Drewes stated that Swalwell invited her to a political event but led her to his hotel, where she said, "I believe he drugged my drink. I only had one glass of wine." Swalwell's attorney, Sara Azari, responded with a statement denying the claims, calling them "false, fabricated, and deeply offensive" and a "political hit job."
Gonzales admitted to an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide, as revealed in reports from last month. He announced his resignation in a post on X, saying, "There is a season for everything, and God has a plan for us all." This decision followed pressure from colleagues, including Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, who told Axios she supported his expulsion if he did not step down.
Sen. Ruben Gallego stated that Swalwell "lied to all of us," referring to their close friendship that "clouded my judgment" about rumors of misconduct. Gallego, who served with Swalwell for a decade, emphasized in a news conference that he had "no knowledge of predatory behavior." Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene claimed that "more members of Congress" face similar accusations, highlighting broader ethical issues on Capitol Hill.
Swalwell's exit from California's 14th congressional district and Gonzales' from Texas's 23rd will trigger special elections, as aides to governors Gavin Newsom and Greg Abbott consider rapid replacements. These vacancies mean constituents lose immediate representation on key issues like local funding and legislation. The resignations underscore how misconduct allegations can disrupt voter voices, potentially delaying decisions on district-specific bills.
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For example, Lonna Drewes stated that she recorded the events of the alleged assault in her handwritten calendar and discussed it during therapy sessions at a sexual assault center in Connecticut.