California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Thursday (16th) that a special election will be held on August 18 to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Congressman Eric Swalwell in the 14th congressional district.
Swalwell previously ran for governor of California. Recent polls showed that he was leading among about sixty candidates and was a top contender among the Democratic candidates. Over the past few weeks, five women have accused him of sexual assault and misconduct, with two women alleging rape in 2018 and 2024, sparking criminal investigations in Manhattan and Los Angeles counties. The Department of Justice has set up a hotline to gather information on his alleged sexual crimes.
Regarding the allegations against Swalwell, Governor Newsom issued a brief statement on Sunday, calling the reports “deeply unsettling.”
Swalwell himself denied the accusations and announced the suspension of his campaign on the same day. On the 13th, the House Ethics Committee announced that it would investigate the allegations. Under pressure from bipartisan lawmakers, Swalwell announced his resignation from Congress on the 14th.
” I deeply apologize to my family, staff, and constituents for the mistakes I have made in judgment.” Swalwell wrote in his resignation statement, “I will vigorously defend against those serious and false accusations against me; however, for the mistakes I have indeed made, I must take responsibility and face them bravely.” He has not been convicted of any crimes at this point.
Republican Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri told the media that he is proposing legislation to prevent congress members convicted of sex crimes from receiving pension benefits.
Swalwell served as a prosecutor in Alameda County and was elected to Congress in 2013. Earlier, he was accused of having close ties to Christine Fang, who was alleged to be a Chinese spy, during his time as a city councilor in Dublin starting in 2010. Fang raised funds for his campaign in 2014 and arranged interns to work in his office. After receiving a warning from the FBI in 2015, Fang returned to China later that year.