WASHINGTON — Top House Democrats are keeping their heads down as calls grow to expel scandal-scarred California Rep. Eric Swalwell over sexual-misconduct accusations.
The lower chamber’s Democratic leadership had quickly called on Swalwell — a married 45-year-old father of three and the party’s onetime frontrunner for California governor — to drop his gubernatorial bid, which he ultimately did late Sunday.
But they have so far refrained from backing his expulsion or calling on him to step down from the House.
“It’s a tough spot. There’ve been rumors for a while, but nothing quite this bad, and people are pretty disgusted by what’s come out,” a House Democratic staffer told The Post of the Swalwell situation.
“At the same time, there’s real hesitation about booting someone without letting the ethics process play out — even if everyone’s frustrated by how slow that is,” the source said.
Multiple reports broke last week about women allegedly sexually assaulted by the married pol.
Among the accusers was a former staffer who claimed he had nonconsensual sex with her while she was drunk and that he left her bleeding and bruised. That allegation, which supposedly took place in New York in 2024, is now under investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
Swalwell has pledged to “fight the serious, false allegations” while apologizing for “mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past.”
In the 237-year history of the House, there have only been six lawmakers expelled, the most recent of whom was Long Island’s GOP former Rep. George Santos in 2023.
Now the lower chamber is wrestling over whether to expel four members: Swalwell and Reps. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-NJ) and Cory Mills (R-Fla.) The latter three have long been facing scrutiny from the House Ethics Committee for various issues.
The ethics panel announced Monday that it will investigate the accusations against the Golden State Democrat.
There have been bipartisan calls to “clean House” and eject them all, with a particular focus on Swalwell and Gonzales.
Gonzales, 45, has been accused of making sexual advances on a subordinate who later fatally set herself on fire, as well as pestering another staffer for sex several years earlier, while married.
Reps for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) did not respond to fresh Post requests for comment about whether they would back expulsion.
Jeffries’ team referred The Post to the trio’s joint statement last week that called “for a swift investigation into these incidents and for the Congressman to immediately end his campaign to be California’s next Governor.
“This is unacceptable of anyone – certainly not an elected official – and must be taken seriously,” the three Democratic leaders said at the time. “We commend the courageous women for sharing their experiences.”
Top California Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) also did not respond to a Post request for comment on the possible expulsions.
There are at least four women who have made accusations against Swalwell that he engaged in sexual activities with them. They include another former female staffer who claimed that he kissed her without consent during a drunken night out with him and woke up the next day in a hotel room with him.
Swalwell also allegedly sent sexually explicit photos towomen on Snapchat.
Before the revelations, Swalwell had been in hot water for his interactions with Christine Fang, a suspected Chinese spy.
A Democratic aide predicted that Swalwell “either resigns or is expelled within a week or so.”
