New Delhi, April 14 -- Democrat Eric Swalwell of California and Republican Tony Gonzales of Texas announced they would both vacate their seats in the US House of Representatives on Monday, each facing mounting allegations of sexual misconduct and the looming threat of formal expulsion proceedings. The back-to-back announcements, separated by a few hours.

The departures bring to a close two careers that had, until recently, appeared resilient: Swalwell, a fixture on national television and a veteran of both Trump impeachment trials; Gonzales, a Texas Republican whose congressional seat covers a vast stretch of the southern border. Both men leave under circumstances they could not have anticipated even a fortnight ago.

Swalwell, who has r...