AMNA NAWAZ: After separate allegations of sexual misconduct, two members of Congress are resigning.

Democrat Eric Swalwell faced multiple allegations of sexual assault, including a new accuser today.

Swalwell denies the accusations.

He dropped out of the California governor's race this weekend, before stepping down from his congressional seat this afternoon.

Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales' resignation takes effect tonight.

Earlier this year, he admitted to sleeping with a staffer who later took her own life.

Lisa Desjardins joins us now with more.

So, Lisa, these new allegations against Eric Swalwell, what do we know?

LISA DESJARDINS: They come from a woman named Lonna Drewes.

And I want to warn our listeners and viewers that they are quite graphic.

Now, Drewes says she met Swalwell in 2018.

She had a boyfriend at the time.

She saw him as a political and business contact.

At one point, she said she had a glass of wine with him.

And she said, in her account, Swalwell told her he needed to get some papers from his hotel room.

She went with him to the hotel room.

And because of what happened after that, she believes she was drugged.

LONNA DREWES, Swalwell Accuser: When I arrived at his hotel room I was already incapacitated and I couldn't move my arms or my body.

He raped me.

And he choked me.

And while he was choking me, I lost consciousness and I thought I died.

LISA DESJARDINS: An attorney for Swalwell told The New York Times that he unequivocally denies every allegation of assault against him.

Now Drewes' attorney says that there are more women who have contacted them.

She is the fifth woman to come forward and reporting publicly.

Two others of those women say that they described getting drinks with Swalwell and also not remembering how they got to the hotel room.

In their versions, though, they said that they were drunk at the time.

Now, Swalwell's political career appears to be over.

However, he could now face criminal charges.

Lonna Drewes and her attorney presented her testimony and evidence to the police.

AMNA NAWAZ: Swalwell, meanwhile, has now resigned, as you pointed out.

Where does all of this leave the balance of power in the House.

LISA DESJARDINS: Right.

Let's talk about it.

Actually, there is -- there are two members who are leaving.

There is one who is coming.

We have a new member about to be sworn in.

That is Clay Fuller of Georgia.

He's replacing Marjorie Taylor Greene, who resigned at the beginning of this year.

So after the resignations basically tomorrow and that new member coming in, here's where things stand, 216 Republicans, 213 Democrats.

There's one independent, though, who generally votes Republicans.

So add all this up, Amna, and what you got is that Republicans now have a two-vote margin, which wildly large for this Congress, meaning that they can lose two Republican votes on anything and still pass legislation without help from Democrats.

AMNA NAWAZ: You have been reporting on other members of Congress who are also under scrutiny.

What do we need to know about that?

LISA DESJARDINS: Let's update on that.

There are two.

First, let's talk about Florida Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick.

She is accused of massive fraud, allegedly using half-a-million in COVID funds for her own personal and campaign expenses.

The House Ethics Committee has found her essentially guilty.

They are due to issue their punishment recommendation a week from today.

Now, her case is also in criminal courts, but in this atmosphere, we have to watch to see if they recommend expulsion.

That ultimately will be up to the full House.

Now, also Cory Mills, the other lawmaker involved here from Florida, he's accused of a list of misconduct, including financial and campaign funding violations.

The Ethics Committee is investigating him, but, as we have reported, sometimes, those investigations can take years.

AMNA NAWAZ: Meanwhile, amid all this, you have been talking with current and former staffers about the culture on the Hill.

What are they telling you?

LISA DESJARDINS: I'm having a lot of conversations.

And this kind of reporting takes a lot of time.

But I will say, even for my expectations, I'm hearing much more widespread concerns than I expected.

I did bring this up with some members of Congress today.

And one of them, Andy Kim, senator from New Jersey, said this that I thought was notable.

He said: "Whatever we are doing when it comes to misconduct on Capitol Hill, it's not working."

The question is, will lawmakers actually change the way that they and their senior staff are scrutinized?

AMNA NAWAZ: Congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins, thank you, as always.

LISA DESJARDINS: You're welcome.