Two members of Congress, each facing allegations of sexual misconduct, have announced they are stepping down, and Kalshi traders think they’ll likely be gone before the end of the month, if not sooner.
Rep. Eric Swalwell, who faces a barrage of accusations from former staffers, now has a 91% chance of leaving Congress before May 1.
Meanwhile, Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas, who admitted to having an affair with a staff member who later took her own life, has a 94% chance of leaving his seat before May 1.
Eric Swalwell
Kalshi traders had previously priced Swalwell as the leading candidate in the race to replace California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Then on Friday, The San Francisco Chronicle reported that an anonymous ex-staffer claimed she had been sexually assaulted by the congressman.
While Swalwell denied the allegations, three more women came forward accusing the congressman of similar misconduct. CNN reported that the additional accusations included receiving unsolicited nude messages from Swalwell and sexual assault.
The House Ethics Committee and the Manhattan District Attorney’s office both announced they were conducting separate investigations into Swalwell’s behavior before announcing he would suspend his campaign for governor and step down from Congress.
Tony Gonzales
The Texas representative announced his retirement from Congress just a few hours after Swalwell made his announcement.
Last month, the House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into Gonzales. The Associated Press reported the panel would look into “whether Gonzales engaged in sexual misconduct toward an employee in his office and whether he discriminated unfairly by dispensing special favors or privileges.”
Yesterday, Gonzales admitted to the affair on the syndicated radio show The Joe Pags Show when asked if he had a relationship with the staffer. Gonzales said he “made a mistake and I had a lapse in judgment, and there was a lack of faith, and I take full responsibility for those actions.”
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