Representatives Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) and Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) announced their resignations from the House of Representatives on Monday, following a series of sexual misconduct allegations that triggered formal investigations by the House Ethics Committee.
The dual departures have sparked a heated debate over the culture of accountability in the Capitol, with former colleagues suggesting these cases may represent only the “tip of the iceberg” regarding legislative misconduct.
The resignation of Rep. Swalwell follows a damning report by the San Francisco Chronicle detailing allegations of sexual assault filed by a former aide. Parallel reporting from CNN identified three additional women who accused the California Democrat of sending unsolicited explicit messages and nude photos.
While Swalwell continues to contest the assault allegations as “false,” he admitted to “mistakes in judgment” when announcing his exit. His resignation effectively ends his bid for the governorship of California.
Simultaneously, Rep. Tony Gonzales faced intense scrutiny following reports of an extramarital affair with his district director, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, who died by suicide earlier this year. Investigative reports published by the San Antonio Express-News and The Hill featured text messages provided by Santos-Aviles’ widower, which appeared to show Gonzales soliciting sexual material despite her protests. Gonzales admitted to the affair last month.
The fallout from these scandals has united disparate ends of the political spectrum in condemnation. Speaking on CNN’s The Source, former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) characterized the behavior as a systemic issue within the institution.
“Congress is no place for that type of behavior. But I have to tell you, it’s a lot more prevalent,” Greene said. “I think there’s more members of Congress that are guilty of things similar to Congressman Swalwell and Congressman Gonzales, and we just haven’t seen them, basically, get caught.”
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) echoed this sentiment, describing the actions of both lawmakers as “despicable” and “disgusting.” Khanna noted that had the members not resigned, he would have supported a vote for their expulsion.
The resignations create two immediate vacancies in the House, further tightening the margins of power. The House Ethics Committee has not confirmed if it will continue its inquiries into the former members, though the resignations typically strip the committee of its jurisdiction.
As the 2026 legislative session continues, the swift downfall of two prominent figures underscores an era of diminishing tolerance for personal misconduct among federal lawmakers.
