The House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) after the California congressman faced numerous allegations of sexual abuse, which ended his campaign for governor.
The Committee made the announcement on Monday as many on both sides of the aisle in Washington have 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.”
Specifically, the Ethics Committee began an investigation into whether Swalwell violated rules regarding allegations he may have engaged in sexual misconduct.
On Friday, both CNN and The San Francisco Chronicle published stories reporting that multiple women accusing Swalwell of sexual misconduct. A former staffer of Swalwell’s also accused him of rape.
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 not just Swalwell but a number of other members of Congress who face investigations.
Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas announced he would not seek re-election after he admitted to an affair with a former staffer who later killed herself after lighting herself on fire. This came despite the fact he made it to a runoff against right-wing candidate and influencer Brendan Herrera.
In addition, Rep. Cory Mills of Florida also faces an investigation from the House Ethics Committee for allegations of campaign finance violations and domestic violence. And Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, also from Florida, was found to have committeed 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,” Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina said. “They should resign IMMEDIATELY. If they don’t, we should expel all of them.”
The House Ethics Committee 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.
But even if Swalwell were to resign, there is a chance that the investigation would continue. In 2024, shortly after he resigned from Congress and had withdrawn his name to become attorney general, the Ethics Committee dropped its report on Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, which detailed Gaetz allegedly engaging sex with an underage girl.
