The final political knell dropped Monday on a Democrat congressman and gubernatorial hopeful from California amid sexual-abuse allegations against him.
Eric Swalwell, accused by a former staffer of raping her, now says he’s leaving the congressional seat he has held for 13 years, according to CNN.
“I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members,” he said. “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,” CNN quoted him. “Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress.”
He did not indicate precisely when he would leave office.
CNN had carried a report Friday quoting four women who said they were a victim of Swalwell’s alleged sexual abuse, including one who said he had raped her.
In the wake of that report, Swalwell was under fire from leading Democrats to quit the gubernatorial primary race.
But those same Democrat leaders stop short of saying he should resign his congressional seat.
Swalwell has denied any sexual misconduct, asserting Sunday that he would fight any such charges.
He reasserted one of those denials in his resignation statement but seems now to be differentiating from the most serious claim against him – rape – and the three allegations of sexual misconduct.
“I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past,” Swalwell said in a statement posted on social media. “I will fight the serious false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make.”
The question at this point is whether Swalwell will be subject to prosecution and whether his stated resignation plans are part of a deal to try to avoid being criminally charged in any of the four cases.
And no one knew anything about any of this until someone didn’t want him running for Governor.
OF COURSE everyone knew about it, but being a Democrat means that you never have to say you’re sorry.
And what I’d like to see is him take a few more with him, and he might.