Rep. Eric Swalwell‘s campaign for California governor collapsed after multiple women made rape allegations against him. The Democratic congressman suspended his campaign on Monday and resigned from Congress on Tuesday, effective April 14, 2026, under pressure from colleagues and the public. Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, however, has said nothing about the scandal on his show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Just months ago, Swalwell announced his run for governor on Kimmel’s show, to a cheering audience. Kimmel even joked about Swalwell’s beard. “Thank you for being here and announcing this exciting news here on the show, and thanks for your support throughout our ordeal. Eric Swalwell, everybody! Your congressman from California and perhaps our future governor of California,” Kimmel said at the time.
When the rape allegations broke, Kimmel’s Monday and Tuesday shows focused almost entirely on President Donald Trump; covering his feud with the Vatican, his DoorDash stunt, his failed lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, and his decision to post an image of himself as Jesus Christ. Despite a Breitbart News article criticizing his silence, Kimmel still did not address the Swalwell scandal.
Kimmel’s silence on Swalwell comes as serious allegations and a Manhattan DA investigation mount
The accusations against Swalwell are serious. One woman claimed he drugged her in his hotel room, then raped and choked her as she “lost consciousness.” Another woman alleged he raped her in a New York City hotel in 2024, leaving her bleeding and bruised.
According to Al Jazeera, three other women told US news outlets they received inappropriate messages from Swalwell on Snapchat, an app that automatically deletes interactions. Swalwell has denied all the allegations. You can read more about how Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign unraveled following the allegations and staff exodus.
In a statement on Monday, Swalwell apologized to his family, staff, and constituents for what he called “mistakes in judgment.” While confirming his resignation, he also criticized colleagues who pushed for his expulsion.
“I will fight the serious, false allegations made against me,” he wrote. “I am aware of the efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members. Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong.”
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has announced it is investigating the sexual assault allegations. Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna had said she would withdraw her motion to expel Swalwell once he stepped down, and she confirmed on Tuesday that he had submitted a resignation letter “effective immediately.”
Republican Representative Tony Gonzales also announced on Monday that he would retire from Congress amid calls for his expulsion over separate allegations of sexual misconduct. This is not the first time Kimmel has found himself at the center of political controversy, a Newsmax host once demanded FCC action against Kimmel, only to face a sharp response from the host. It remains to be seen whether Kimmel will address the Swalwell allegations on his show in the coming days.
Published: Apr 15, 2026 01:50 pm