Congressman Resigns Amid Multiple Sexual Misconduct Allegations

A Democratic representative from California resigned from Congress on Monday and dropped out of the state's gubernatorial race. The resignation followed multiple allegations of sexual misconduct against him. The allegations include sending sexually inappropriate messages and an assault in a hotel room.

Annika Albrecht, who met the congressman during a college class trip, spoke publicly for the first time in an interview with CBS News on Tuesday. She stated that the congressman initially contacted her under the pretense of professional mentorship. He then requested her Snapchat contact and sent messages that became sexually inappropriate, culminating in an invitation to a hotel room.

Albrecht said she stopped responding after the invitation and has since reflected on the incident. She described the connotation of the invitation as clear and noted that she feels relieved she did not attend. Albrecht has spoken with other women who have accused the congressman of misconduct.

Additional Allegations Another woman accused the congressman of sexually assaulting her in a New York City hotel room in 2024.

The woman, who was no longer employed in his office at the time, stated she was intoxicated after a charity gala and woke up to find him assaulting her. She told CNN that she pushed him away and said no, but he did not stop. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office has opened a probe into this assault allegation.

Albrecht described hearing stories from other accusers about waking up in bed with the congressman after drinking, with no recollection of events. These accounts span years and involve various forms of misconduct, such as unsolicited explicit messages or photos on Snapchat.

Resignation and Response The congressman, a seven-term lawmaker, denied the allegations in a social media statement.

He expressed sorrow to his family, staff, and constituents for past mistakes in judgment. He stated he would fight the serious false allegations but take responsibility for errors he made. The resignation marks the end of his congressional career amid the recent flurry of accusations.

The probe by the district attorney's office continues, which may lead to further legal proceedings. Those affected include the accusers, who seek accountability, and political observers monitoring the impact on California's races.