Rep. Eric Swalwell's political troubles deepened Monday as the House Ethics Committee announced a formal inquiry into sexual assault and sexual misconduct allegations against the California Democrat. In a statement, the panel said it is examining claims that Swalwell "may have engaged in sexual misconduct, including towards an employee working under his supervision," Politico reports. The committee did not detail specific incidents or a timeline, and noted that opening an investigation does not indicate any conclusion about wrongdoing.
Swalwell, who ended his campaign for California governor on Sunday, has denied the allegations and promised to contest them, calling the claims false. Reports in the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN triggered a rapid collapse of his gubernatorial bid, with prominent Democrats withdrawing endorsements and senior campaign aides stepping down. The fallout has spread to Swalwell's standing inside the party: former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a longtime ally and influential figure in California politics, publicly called for the accusations to be thoroughly examined.
Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna says she believes there is enough support in the House to expel both Swalwell and Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales, who is being investigated by the Ethics Committee over an affair with an aide who later died by suicide, the Hill reports. "Although we may have ideological differences among parties and political philosophy, the one thing that we should all agree on is that sexual harassment, inappropriate relationships with staff, and intentional and malicious violation of congressional House rules are unacceptable in the United States House of Representatives," Luna said in a letter to colleagues seen by the New York Times.
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