Congressman Eric Swalwell, who is running for governor of California, is facing allegations of sexual assault and inappropriate behavior detailed in a San Francisco Chronicle article and a CNN report. He is facing calls from prominent Democrats to withdraw from the California governor’s race and Congress. The San Francisco Chronicle first reported that a woman who said she worked for Swalwell claimed he sexually assaulted her twice when she was too intoxicated to consent and sent her explicit photos via Snapchat while asking for nude photos in return. The woman, who was 21 when she was hired and worked with Swalwell for nearly two years, said she had sex with him while he was her boss. She said her then-boyfriend encouraged her to report the incidents to police, but she did not, believing her account would not be taken seriously. CNN also reported the woman’s account and spoke to three others who alleged various kinds of sexual misconduct, which Swalwell denied. Before the new reports were published, Swalwell denied behaving inappropriately with female staffers or using nondisclosure agreements to silence them. “No. No. It’s false. And also, you know, some of the allegations I’ve seen, which is that we’ve had NDAs in the office, have never — there’s never been an allegation, and there’s never been a settlement,” he told sister station KCRA earlier this week. “And, you know, I will also just take stock that occurred for 27 days before an election starts.” When asked why he did not address internet rumors, Swalwell said at the time, “Yeah. I don’t want there to be any question.” He also denied ever having sex with a staffer. When asked whether he was certain no truthful allegations would emerge, Swalwell said, “Yes. I know because I said that what I have seen so far is false, but I’m not going to be distracted.” Swalwell, a married father of three, canceled a town hall in Palm Desert on Thursday night, citing illness. Through a spokesperson, he denied the allegations, calling them “false” and politically motivated. “These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor. For nearly 20 years, I have served the public — as a prosecutor and a congressman — and have always protected women,” Swalwell said in a statement. “I will defend myself with the facts and, where necessary, bring legal action. My focus in the coming days is to be with my wife and children and defend our decades of service against these lies.” Later Friday, he released a video statement saying the allegations of sexual assault were false and he would “fight them.” He acknowledged mistakes of judgment that were between “me and my wife,” and said he apologized to her for “putting her in this position.” The California Democratic Party responded to the allegations, calling them “deeply disturbing.” Its chair said, “Any person engaged in misconduct must take responsibility and be held accountable for their actions — including a member of Congress and candidate for governor.” The party also urged all gubernatorial candidates to “honestly assess the viability of their candidacy and campaign,” adding that the call is “more important now than ever before.” Multiple Democrats on Friday called on Swalwell to end his campaign, including Rep. Jimmy Gomez, who co-chaired Swalwell’s campaign but announced he is stepping down immediately. California Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, along with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, called for Swalwell to exit the race.The California Teachers Association also withdrew its support, calling the allegations “disturbing.” See more reactions from prominent Democrats and candidates for California governor below
Congressman Eric Swalwell, who is running for governor of California, is facing allegations of sexual assault and inappropriate behavior detailed in a San Francisco Chronicle article and a CNN report.
He is facing calls from prominent Democrats to withdraw from the California governor’s race and Congress.
The San Francisco Chronicle first reported that a woman who said she worked for Swalwell claimed he sexually assaulted her twice when she was too intoxicated to consent and sent her explicit photos via Snapchat while asking for nude photos in return.
The woman, who was 21 when she was hired and worked with Swalwell for nearly two years, said she had sex with him while he was her boss. She said her then-boyfriend encouraged her to report the incidents to police, but she did not, believing her account would not be taken seriously.
CNN also reported the woman’s account and spoke to three others who alleged various kinds of sexual misconduct, which Swalwell denied.
Before the new reports were published, Swalwell denied behaving inappropriately with female staffers or using nondisclosure agreements to silence them.
“No. No. It’s false. And also, you know, some of the allegations I’ve seen, which is that we’ve had NDAs in the office, have never — there’s never been an allegation, and there’s never been a settlement,” he told sister station KCRA earlier this week. “And, you know, I will also just take stock that occurred for 27 days before an election starts.”
When asked why he did not address internet rumors, Swalwell said at the time, “Yeah. I don’t want there to be any question.” He also denied ever having sex with a staffer.
When asked whether he was certain no truthful allegations would emerge, Swalwell said, “Yes. I know because I said that what I have seen so far is false, but I’m not going to be distracted.”
Swalwell, a married father of three, canceled a town hall in Palm Desert on Thursday night, citing illness.
Through a spokesperson, he denied the allegations, calling them “false” and politically motivated.
“These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor. For nearly 20 years, I have served the public — as a prosecutor and a congressman — and have always protected women,” Swalwell said in a statement. “I will defend myself with the facts and, where necessary, bring legal action. My focus in the coming days is to be with my wife and children and defend our decades of service against these lies.”
Later Friday, he released a video statement saying the allegations of sexual assault were false and he would “fight them.”
He acknowledged mistakes of judgment that were between “me and my wife,” and said he apologized to her for “putting her in this position.”
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The California Democratic Party responded to the allegations, calling them “deeply disturbing.”
Its chair said, “Any person engaged in misconduct must take responsibility and be held accountable for their actions — including a member of Congress and candidate for governor.”
The party also urged all gubernatorial candidates to “honestly assess the viability of their candidacy and campaign,” adding that the call is “more important now than ever before.”
Multiple Democrats on Friday called on Swalwell to end his campaign, including Rep. Jimmy Gomez, who co-chaired Swalwell’s campaign but announced he is stepping down immediately.
California Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, along with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, called for Swalwell to exit the race.
The California Teachers Association also withdrew its support, calling the allegations “disturbing.”
See more reactions from prominent Democrats and candidates for California governor below
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