House Ethics Committee begins probe into Rep. Eric Swalwell after sex abuse allegations

Many Democrats say they would support his expulsion alongside that of other members of Congress facing ethics investigations
The House Ethics Committee has opened an investigation into Democrat Eric Swalwell after the California congressman faced numerous allegations of sexual abuse, which ended his campaign for governor .

The committee made the announcement Monday as many on both sides of the aisle in Washington called for Swalwell to be expelled .

“The Committee notes that the mere fact that it is investigating these allegations, and publicly disclosing its review, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred,” it said in a statement.

“No other public comment will be made on this matter except in accordance with Committee rules.”
On Friday, CNN and The San Francisco Chronicle published stories detailing allegations of sexual misconduct against Swalwell.

The CNN story included four women who accused him of inappropriate sexual behavior, including a staffer who said he sexually assaulted her in 2019 and 2024.

Swalwell had previously been a frontrunner for the Democratic nomination for governor of California.

But many Democrats, including people who had previously endorsed him, called on Swalwell to exit the race, which he did Sunday.

The House is currently debating whether to conduct a joint expulsion of Swalwell and a number of other members of Congress who face investigations.

Republican Representative Tony Gonzales of Texas announced he would not seek re-election after he admitted to an affair with a former staffer who later took her own life.

In addition, Republican Representative Cory Mills of Florida faces an investigation from the House Ethics Committee over allegations of campaign finance violations and domestic violence .

Democratic Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, also from Florida, was found to have committed 25 ethics violations after an investigation last month.

Historically, members of Congress are only expelled when they are convicted of crimes or commit treason, as was the case when members of Congress were expelled for joining the Confederacy in the aftermath of the Civil War.

Many Democrats and even some Republicans are suggesting that since an equal number of members from both parties face serious ethics investigations, that the House should do a clean sweep where all four members are expelled.

“Time to clean House,” Republican Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina said.

“They should resign IMMEDIATELY.

If they don’t, we should expel all of them.”
House Ethics is the only committee in Congress comprised of an equal number of members from both parties.

Historically, the committee halts investigations when the Department of Justice begins a probe into a member.

Even if Swalwell were to resign, there is a chance that the investigation would continue.

In 2024, shortly after he resigned from Congress and withdrew his name to become attorney general, the Ethics Committee released its report on Republican Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida, which detailed the congressman allegedly engaging sex with an underage girl .

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