Democrats join calls to expel Eric Swalwell from Congress over misconduct claims

Democrats join calls to expel Eric Swalwell from Congress over misconduct claims14 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleReutersRepresentative Eric Swalwell is already set to leave Congress in JanuaryA growing number of Democratic lawmakers have called for the expulsion of their colleague Eric Swalwell from the House of Representatives as he battles allegations of sexual misconduct that have upended his bid to be California's next governor.Democrats said they would be on board with removing Swalwell if a Republican congressman, Tony Gonzales of Texas, who is also facing allegations of abuse involving a staff member, is removed from the chamber, too.Virginia Democrat Eugene Vindman told CNN on Sunday: "We should not tolerate this behaviour. Representative Eric Swalwell needs to go."Before the allegations surfaced Swalwell was projected as a frontrunner in the race for California governor.Both men are already set to leave Congress in January. Last month, Gonzales dropped his re-election bid after admitting to having an affair with a staff member. A House ethics panel is investigating his conduct.US media reported four women have accused Swalwell of misconduct ranging from harassment to sexual assault, including an alleged incident in New York that has prompted an investigation by Manhattan district attorney's office. The BBC has not independently verified the unnamed accuser's account or identity.Swalwell - who was elected in 2012 to a district near San Francisco - vowed in a statement on Friday to defend himself with "facts". "For nearly 20 years, I have served the public - as a prosecutor and a congressman, and have always protected women," the married father-of-three added. "I will defend myself with the facts and where necessary bring legal action."Within hours of the accusations surfacing, Swalwell's California gubernatorial campaign had lost the backing of prominent supporters, including House D...