Inside the sudden downfall of Eric Swalwell

Key Points:

• Rep. Eric Swalwell, once a frontrunner for California governor and a rising star in the Democratic Party, resigned from Congress amid multiple allegations of sexual assault and misconduct, including claims of relationships with subordinates and abuse of power.
• Swalwell's downfall was rapid, driven by a swift and intense pressure campaign from fellow Democrats, notably led by former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who urged him to leave politics following the public emergence of serious allegations.
• Prior to the public allegations, rumors of Swalwell's womanizing were an "open secret" in Washington, but more severe accusations, including criminal sexual assault, surfaced only weeks before the election, prompting nearly two dozen Democrats to withdraw their endorsements.
• Pelosi and other top Democrats, along with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and deputies, quickly condemned Swalwell, calling for his withdrawal from the governor's race and eventual resignation, reflecting the party's strict no-tolerance policy on sexual misconduct.
• In a rare bipartisan move, female members from both parties coordinated to ensure equal accountability for sexual misconduct allegations, pushing for similar consequences for GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales, who faced related accusations, emphasizing an "expel for expel" or "resign for resign" approach.