By Gabe Whisnant
News Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell of California, who said Monday that he will resign from Congress after multiple sexual assault allegations, is married to Brittany Watts.
The focus on Swalwell’s family comes as his political career rapidly unraveled, with the lawmaker dropping out of California’s governor’s race Sunday before announcing his resignation from the House of Representatives.
Watts, who has largely remained private throughout her husband’s time in office, has not publicly commented as the allegations and Swalwell’s resignation place renewed attention on his personal life.
Read More on Politics
...
What to Know About Brittany Watts, Swalwell's Family
Swalwell and Watts were married in October 2016, according to a wedding announcement published by The New York Times. The couple met the previous year through mutual friends and have three children together, Nelson, Cricket and Hank.
They maintained a California presence during Swalwell’s tenure in Congress, which began in 2013, though he also purchased a $1.2 million home in the Eckington neighborhood of Washington, D.C., in 2020, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
Watts has largely kept a career separate from her husband’s political life. At the time of their marriage, she worked as director of sales at the Ritz‑Carlton resort in Half Moon Bay, California, the Times reported. In Swalwell’s congressional biography, she is described as a small-business owner in the hospitality industry. She has typically avoided political roles or frequent public appearances even as her husband became a nationally prominent figure through impeachment proceedings and congressional investigations.
Watts has occasionally appeared alongside Swalwell at community events and in interviews, but has otherwise maintained a low public profile. As scrutiny of Swalwell intensified amid allegations and his decision to step down from office, she has not issued public statements and has remained out of the public eye during the unfolding political and legal developments.
Swalwell has previously said that he and his family have received threats, including death threats, connected to his political work. In February, he told lawmakers that callers had threatened violence against him, his wife and his children, and urged federal authorities, including FBI Director Kash Patel, to take such threats seriously.
Eric Swalwell's Sexual Assault Allegations
The San Francisco Chronicle, followed by CNN, reported that a woman accused Swalwell of sexually assaulting her twice, including while she was working for him. CNN later reported that three additional women accused him of other forms of sexual misconduct, including sending unsolicited explicit messages or nude photos.
As allegations against Swalwell emerged in recent weeks, attention turned briefly to his family after he issued public statements acknowledging personal “mistakes” while denying claims of sexual assault.
“I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past,” Swalwell wrote on social media. He added that the sexual assault allegations were false and said he planned to fight them, while taking responsibility for other past decisions he did not specify.
The House Ethics Committee announced Monday that it had opened an investigation into whether Swalwell engaged in sexual misconduct toward an employee working under his supervision. Committee officials stressed that the investigation itself does not indicate any violation.
...
Eric Swalwell's Political Career
Swalwell, an Iowa native, was first elected to Congress in 2012 and represents a district east of San Francisco. He launched a presidential bid in April 2019 but ended the campaign later that year after failing to gain traction.
A leading Democratic critic of President Donald Trump during his first term, Swalwell served on the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees during Trump’s first term and was among the House managers for Trump’s second impeachment following the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
In 2023, then‑House Speaker Kevin McCarthy removed Swalwell from the Intelligence Committee, citing concerns over his past contact with a suspected Chinese government operative, Christine Fang.
Several Democrats called on Swalwell to resign in the days after the allegations emerged. California Senator Adam Schiff, who withdrew his endorsement of Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign, told reporters Monday that “the whole thing is just shocking and deeply upsetting.”
In a statement posted to social media, Swalwell said he was “aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote” and argued that such action would be “wrong” without due process.
“But it's also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress,” Swalwell wrote. He did not provide a time frame, saying only that he would work with his staff in the coming days to ensure their work can continue.
Swalwell’s departure will trigger a special election in his East Bay district, which he won by more than 30 percentage points in 2024. Under California law, Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom is required to call a special election within 14 calendar days of the vacancy.
Updates: 4/13/26, 8:03 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines