(KRON) — Calls for former Congressman Eric Swalwell’s resignation from Congress as well as his exit from the 2026 California governor’s race mounted after bombshell reports of sexual assault allegations surfaced last week. Following his resignation on Monday, some now are calling to strip him of his Congressional pension.
Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., took to social media Wednesday saying she was “working on a way to cancel his Congressional pension.”
“Former Congressman Eric Swalwell abused his position in power in Congress to assault and victimize women,” Boebert said in a prerecorded video. “Now as things stand, taxpayers will be sending him tens of thousands of dollars for the rest of his life. This is totally unacceptable.”
“Eric Swalwell should never receive another taxpayer dollar again,” she finished.
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Rep. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., furthered this sentiment when he introduced the No Pensions for Congressional Predators Act on Thursday, which would “prohibit members of Congress convicted of felony sex crimes from receiving their federal pensions.”
“I’m introducing legislation to end this loophole and ensure that lawmakers are never compensated with taxpayer dollars after such a breach of trust,” Hawley said in a news release. The only thing the government should be paying for is a jail cell for these people.”
The Retirement Benefits for Members of Congress policy states that members of congress that have served for more than five years can start receiving their pension when they turn 62. Those who have served for more than 20 years can start receiving it at age 50. Swalwell has been a member of Congress since 2013.
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The policy also states that members of Congress must forfeit their pensions if convicted of certain felonies, but sex crimes are not currently included. Since Swalwell has not been convicted of a crime, this bill would not immediately apply to him.