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Several Bay Area leaders responded to embattled U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell’s announcement Monday that he is resigning from Congress amid allegations of sexual assault.
U.S. Rep. Lateefah Simon, D-Oakland, released a statement supporting his decision.
“Swalwell did the right thing by resigning from Congress and ending his campaign,” said Simon. “There is no room for abusers in our politics. That is the floor. Believe and protect survivors.”
Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley said he was shocked, saddened and disappointed in the allegations, adding that he considered Swalwell a friend who he had worked with on many occasions over the years.
“At the same time, I stand in firm support of sexual assault victims and can find no excuse for harm caused to them,” said Miley in a statement released by his office Monday. “Rep. Swalwell’s decision to suspend his gubernatorial campaign and to resign his congressional seat was, unfortunately, the only thing for to have done for himself, his family and the electorate… this is a sad day of all of us.”
In a matter of two days, Swalwell, D-Castro Valley, stepped back from both the governor’s race and Congress in the wake of the sexual harassment and assault allegations against him.
U.S. Rep Sam Liccardo, D-San Jose, said he had publicly urged Swalwell to resign and said it will bring some relief and vindication to survivors. But Liccardo questioned why some may have ignored rumors about his alleged behavior.
“We must thank and praise those courageous survivors who risked their reputations, careers, and emotional well-being to protect other women and halt his torrent of abuse,” said Liccardo in a Monday release from his office. “But we also must ask the harder question: for a man long rumored to menace young female coworkers, why did so many powerful people look the other way, and even support him? It is time for a reckoning.”
Community organizer and East Bay native Matt Ortega is running for Swalwell’s seat and said the congressman betrayed the district and “all those closest to him with his actions.”
“The first step towards healing begins with this resignation,” said Ortega in an email on Monday. “The bravery of those who came forward to tell their story must not be forgotten. It takes courage to speak out against someone powerful, especially when that truth is deeply personal. We live in a time where the courage to speak truth to power is rare and the powerful skate by with impunity. Not today.”
In a social media post, Swalwell mentioned his “mistakes in judgement” and said he’d continue to “fight the serious, false allegation made against me.”
An unnamed woman has accused Swalwell of sexual assault and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office opened an investigation into the allegations.
Swalwell said he is aware of an effort to introduce a motion to expel him from Congress “without due process, within days of an allegation being made.” He said that effort 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.”
A spokesperson for Swalwell did not respond to a request for comment.
On Monday, House Committee on Ethics Chairman Michael Guest, R-Mississippi, announced that the committee has initiated an investigation into allegations that Swalwell may have “engaged in sexual misconduct, including towards an employee working under his supervision.”
Many local and national political leaders were already calling on Swalwell to leave office voluntarily prior to the start of any ethics investigation and on Sunday, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Florida, said she would introduce a motion to expel him from Congress as early as Tuesday or Wednesday.
— Story by Katy St. Clair and Kiley Russell, Bay City News
