WASHINGTON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell, a Democrat from California, on Monday announced his plans to resign from Congress following lawmakers from both parties calling for him to step down amid sexual assault allegations.
"I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members. Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But it's also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress," Swalwell wrote in a post on X.
Swalwell didn't specify when he will step down, but said, "I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make."
The announcement came a few hours after the House Ethics Committee said it was launching an investigation into the sexual assault allegations against Swalwell.
Two days ago, Swalwell said on X in a video that "these allegations are flat false," and vowed to fight them. On Sunday, he suspended his campaign for California governor.
Shortly after Swalwell's latest announcement on Monday, Representative Tony Gonzales, a Republican from Texas who is also facing sexual misconduct allegations, announced that he'll "file my retirement from office" when the House is back in session on Tuesday.
Gonzales admitted last month to having an affair with a former staffer who later died by suicide, and dropped his re-election bid. ■