Pressure is rapidly mounting on Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) as members of his own party increasingly join Republicans in calling for his resignation or expulsion amid a growing sexual misconduct scandal and an active criminal investigation.
A growing number of House lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are now openly discussing removing Swalwell from office — a rare moment of bipartisan alignment on Capitol Hill. Speaking on NBC's 'Meet the Press,' Byron Donalds (R-FL) said he would support expulsion if the issue comes to a vote.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive Democrats have begun distancing themselves from Swalwell, with some explicitly calling for his resignation or expulsion. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said she would support expulsion on 'Meet the Press,' emphasizing that the issue transcends party lines. 'This is not a partisan issue,' Jayapal said. 'This is clearly a pattern … and I think we have to hold everybody accountable.'
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) directly called for Swalwell to resign during an appearance on Fox News Sunday, framing the controversy as part of a broader cultural issue within Congress. 'I believe that he should resign,' Khanna said. 'And whatever in terms of the House has to happen should happen… This shouldn't be about politics… anyone who abuses staffers should not be in the United States Congress.'
Rep. Jared Huffman wrote on social media that he has 'seen enough,' arguing that Swalwell's own public defense 'all but admits a per se abuse of power under House ethics rules.' 'He must now drop out of the Governor's race and resign from Congress,' Huffman wrote on X, adding that he would support a vote to expel Swalwell if he refuses to step down.
Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM), chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus, issued a forceful statement on Sunday calling for both Swalwell and Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) to step down. 'Men in power rely on the silence of the women they have abused,' Leger Fernandez said. 'Both Reps. Gonzales and Swalwell believed it was acceptable to sexually abuse staff and still run for and serve in elected office.' She added that she would vote to expel both lawmakers if they do not resign.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) urged Swalwell to end his gubernatorial campaign but stopped short of demanding he leave Congress entirely, representing a more cautious approach from party leadership.
What the Right Is Saying
Republicans have been quick to capitalize on the controversy, with multiple lawmakers calling for Swalwell's removal from office. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) made clear on 'Meet the Press' that he would support both resignation and expulsion measures. '[If] that vote comes to the floor, I will be voting yes on both measures. These allegations are despicable and they demean the integrity of Congress,' Donalds said.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) has taken concrete steps toward an expulsion vote, announcing plans to inquire with the House parliamentarian about pairing her resolution to expel Swalwell with a similar resolution targeting Rep. Gonzales. 'These things are just completely unacceptable… both gentlemen need to go home,' Donalds said.
The controversy has drawn comparisons to the Gonzales case, with Republicans arguing that accountability should apply equally regardless of party affiliation. The two cases together would represent the seventh and eighth expulsions in House history, and the fourth and fifth since the Civil War. The most recent expulsion was George Santos in 2023.
What the Numbers Show
The allegations against Swalwell include one woman who first accused him of sexual assault on Friday, followed by three more women who came forward within hours with additional claims ranging from harassment to sending unsolicited explicit images. Swalwell has denied all allegations, calling them 'absolutely false' and vowing to fight them.
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office has launched a criminal inquiry into the claims, which include an alleged assault involving a former staffer in New York City in 2024. If Swalwell and Gonzales are both expelled, they would become the seventh and eighth members ever expelled from the House, and the first expulsions since Santos.
The growing bipartisan consensus marks a rare moment of agreement in an otherwise deeply divided Congress. At least five House Democrats have now publicly called for Swalwell's resignation or indicated they would support expulsion, while Republicans have coalesced around similar calls.
The Bottom Line
Swalwell faces the most serious threat to his congressional career since entering public office. With allies stepping away, Democratic leadership urging him out of the gubernatorial race, and a bipartisan bloc now openly discussing expulsion, the political reality around him is shifting quickly.
The question of whether pressure will ultimately force him from Congress, or trigger a historic expulsion vote, will likely be determined in the coming days. The dual investigations — one by House Ethics and one by Manhattan prosecutors — will play a key role in shaping the outcome.
The case has also elevated broader questions about workplace conduct in Congress, with lawmakers from both parties acknowledging the need to protect staffers and hold members accountable regardless of political affiliation.