Rep. Eric Swalwell Resigns from Congress; FBI Invites Him on Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Rep. Eric Swalwell, a Democrat from California, resigned from Congress on Monday amid allegations of sexual misconduct. The accusations involve claims that he drugged and sexually assaulted a woman while representing his district.

Swalwell has denied the allegations. FBI Director Kash Patel extended an invitation to Swalwell to sit down with agents. Patel's statement renews a rivalry dating back to investigations into Trump-Russia matters on Capitol Hill.

The invitation encourages Swalwell and others with relevant information to speak with the FBI. Swalwell's resignation comes as he was a candidate in the California gubernatorial race to replace the term-limited governor. His abrupt exit has upended the contest, where no clear frontrunner has emerged among Democrats.

Mail-in voting is set to start in under a month.

Impact on California Gubernatorial Race California uses a top-two primary system, placing all candidates on one ballot with the top two advancing to the general election regardless of party.

Democrats, who have dominated state politics, worry their divided field could allow two Republicans to advance. The race has involved debates over eligibility and other issues.

The state Republican party did not endorse a candidate at its recent convention. On the Democratic side, candidates include a former congressmember known for using a whiteboard in hearings, a billionaire who previously ran for president, and a city mayor who has raised funds from business leaders.

California has never elected a woman governor, and only two prominent women are running.

Background on Allegations and Rivalry The sexual misconduct allegations were reported by CNN.

Swalwell faces separate scandals leading to bipartisan criticism, prompting his resignation alongside another congressman. Despite the cloud of scandal, Swalwell remains eligible for a taxpayer-funded congressional pension of about $22,000 per year starting at age 62, according to a National Taxpayers Union analysis.

The invitation from Patel traces back to 2017, when Democrats promoted a Russian-sourced dossier accusing Trump of election interference.

Patel, then a staff investigator for the House Intelligence Committee under Chairman Devin Nunes, helped probe the FBI's use of the dossier. The investigation found the FBI misused the document for wiretaps and submitted false claims in warrants. Swalwell was a vocal proponent of the dossier on the committee.

The Nunes-Patel memo, released in 2018, offended Democrats who relied on the Clinton campaign-funded document to target Trump. Swalwell initially criticized the investigation itself.

Broader Context Swalwell's campaign collapse has Democrats agonizing over the possibility of being excluded from the November general election.

The race has grown messy with arguments over identity politics and other matters.

The city mayor positions himself as a moderate and has support from Silicon Valley.