Eric Swalwell faces sexual assault accusations as he runs for California governor
Eric Swalwell, the 45-year-old legislator from California, denied the allegations, calling them false. He also questioned the timing of these allegations, noting that they came amid his election campaign.
Democrat Eric Swalwell's campaign to succeed Gavin Newsom as Governor of California has run into trouble after multiple women levelled allegations of sexual misconduct against him. Swalwell has denied the allegations, but there are growing calls for him to withdraw from the race.
The Democrat leader's election campaign began to unravel after a former staffer told CNN that he had raped her in 2024 while she was heavily intoxicated.
"I was pushing him off of me, saying no. He didn’t stop," she told the US broadcaster. She also alleged that Swalwell had non-consensual sexual contact with her after a night of heavy drinking in 2019, when she was a part of his team.
Three other women, too, revealed several instances of sexual misconduct by the Congressman. While one woman accused him of kissing and touching her leg without her consent at a bar, another woman recalled receiving unsolicited nude messages from Swalwell.
SWALWELL DEFENDS HIMSELF
The 45-year-old legislator from California denied the allegations, calling them false. He also questioned the timing of these allegations, noting that they came amid his election campaign.
In a statement to CNN, he said, "For nearly 20 years, I have served the public – as a prosecutor and a Congressman and have always protected women. 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."
Swalwell also posted a video statement on social media, apologising to his wife for making "errors of judgement" in the past while defending himself.
"I am not a saint. I have made several errors of judgement in the past. But that's between me and my wife. I apologise to her for putting her in such a position," he said in the video posted on 'X'.
ATTORNEY ISSUES WARNING
An attorney defended Swalwell and threatened legal action against the women who spoke to the US broadcaster.
The Congressman's legal team also sent letters to at least two women, calling their accounts “false” and ordering them to retract their statements or face legal action.
The letters argued the women’s claims were “undermined” by their “voluntary and cooperative relationship” with Swalwell for years after the alleged incidents, including requests for job references.
His attorney also sent a letter to CNN denying that Swalwell ever had sexual relations with any member of his staff.
'SWALWELL MUST QUIT'
Meanwhile, many senior Democratic leaders urged him to end his campaign to succeed Newsom. California’s lieutenant governor, Eleni Kounalakis, as well as former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi publicly asked Swalwell to quit the race.
Moreover, several members of his campaign team resigned after the allegation surfaced on CNN. Congressman Jimmy Gomez resigned as the head of the campaign committee and called on Swalwell to drop out.
"I cannot, in good conscience, remain in any role in this campaign. The Congressman should leave the race now so there can be full accountability without doubt, distraction, or delay," Gomez's statement added.
Newsom, who is widely expected to run for president in 2028, called the allegations by multiple women "deeply troubling" but did not call for Swalwell to drop out of the race to replace him.
Democrat Eric Swalwell's campaign to succeed Gavin Newsom as Governor of California has run into trouble after multiple women levelled allegations of sexual misconduct against him. Swalwell has denied the allegations, but there are growing calls for him to withdraw from the race.
The Democrat leader's election campaign began to unravel after a former staffer told CNN that he had raped her in 2024 while she was heavily intoxicated.
"I was pushing him off of me, saying no. He didn’t stop," she told the US broadcaster. She also alleged that Swalwell had non-consensual sexual contact with her after a night of heavy drinking in 2019, when she was a part of his team.
Three other women, too, revealed several instances of sexual misconduct by the Congressman. While one woman accused him of kissing and touching her leg without her consent at a bar, another woman recalled receiving unsolicited nude messages from Swalwell.
SWALWELL DEFENDS HIMSELF
The 45-year-old legislator from California denied the allegations, calling them false. He also questioned the timing of these allegations, noting that they came amid his election campaign.
In a statement to CNN, he said, "For nearly 20 years, I have served the public – as a prosecutor and a Congressman and have always protected women. 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."
Swalwell also posted a video statement on social media, apologising to his wife for making "errors of judgement" in the past while defending himself.
"I am not a saint. I have made several errors of judgement in the past. But that's between me and my wife. I apologise to her for putting her in such a position," he said in the video posted on 'X'.
ATTORNEY ISSUES WARNING
An attorney defended Swalwell and threatened legal action against the women who spoke to the US broadcaster.
The Congressman's legal team also sent letters to at least two women, calling their accounts “false” and ordering them to retract their statements or face legal action.
The letters argued the women’s claims were “undermined” by their “voluntary and cooperative relationship” with Swalwell for years after the alleged incidents, including requests for job references.
His attorney also sent a letter to CNN denying that Swalwell ever had sexual relations with any member of his staff.
'SWALWELL MUST QUIT'
Meanwhile, many senior Democratic leaders urged him to end his campaign to succeed Newsom. California’s lieutenant governor, Eleni Kounalakis, as well as former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi publicly asked Swalwell to quit the race.
Moreover, several members of his campaign team resigned after the allegation surfaced on CNN. Congressman Jimmy Gomez resigned as the head of the campaign committee and called on Swalwell to drop out.
"I cannot, in good conscience, remain in any role in this campaign. The Congressman should leave the race now so there can be full accountability without doubt, distraction, or delay," Gomez's statement added.
Newsom, who is widely expected to run for president in 2028, called the allegations by multiple women "deeply troubling" but did not call for Swalwell to drop out of the race to replace him.
