Multiple Women Accuse Rep. Eric Swalwell Of Sexual Assault, Misconduct | EUROtoday

Multiple ladies accused Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), one of many prime contenders to exchange Gov. Gavin Newsom, of sexual assault and misconduct in two bombshell stories Friday.

The San Francisco Chronicle was the primary to report on allegations from a former feminine staffer who stated Swalwell engaged in sexual encounters together with her whereas he was her boss and that, on two events, he sexually assaulted her whereas she was too drunk to consent.

The unnamed girl stated Swalwell pursued her simply weeks after she was employed to work in one in every of his California places of work in 2019, when she was 21, and that he messaged her photos of his genitals on Snapchat and sought nude images of her in return.

Shortly after the Chronicle’s story dropped, CNN revealed extraordinarily detailed accusations from three extra ladies who’d linked with Swalwell on social media. The community additionally detailed accusations from a fourth girl, a former staffer, who seems to be the identical accuser featured within the Chronicle’s reporting.

The allegations rocked Swalwell’s gubernatorial marketing campaign, with strategic adviser Courtni Pugh resigning, together with at the least 4 different departures, Politico stories. The California Teachers Association and different key supporters additionally stated they have been withdrawing their endorsements.

Swalwell, who’s 45 and married with three kids, flatly denied the allegations.

“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,” his marketing campaign stated in an announcement. “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.”

The former staffer supplied detailed accounts of her allegations in opposition to Swalwell, telling the Chronicle that in 2019, she blacked out after the lawmaker invited her out for drinks. She alleges she wakened bare in his lodge mattress and “could feel the effect of vaginal intercourse.”

On one other alleged event, the staffer says Swalwell tried to kiss her when she was driving him residence from a gathering. Another time, the staffer stated she carried out oral intercourse on Swalwell in a car parking zone after he pulled out his penis and requested her to have interaction within the act.

In 2024, after she was not working for Swalwell, the staffer says she encountered him at a charity gala and that he compelled himself on her when she was drunk. In texts to a buddy after the alleged incident, which have been reviewed by the Chronicle, Swalwell’s accuser stated she “woke up once during it and even told him to stop at one point.”

The accuser acquired a cease-and-desist letter from an legal professional for Swalwell on Thursday after the Chronicle contacted him for remark, the newspaper reported.

One of the accusers who spoke to CNN is Democratic strategist and social media persona Ally Sammarco, who stated she had acquired unsolicited nude messages from Swalwell when she linked with him on social media.

Another girl advised the community that she discovered herself intoxicated in Swalwell’s lodge room with little reminiscence of the night. She stated the lawmaker had nonconsensually kissed her and touched her leg in a bar earlier that evening.

A unique girl reported a really related expertise, saying she had linked with Swalwell on Instagram in 2025 and that he despatched her his telephone quantity. She stated she later met with him in individual and that he touched her leg and kissed her nonconsensually and ordered her a drink. She says she later discovered herself in his lodge room with no reminiscence of how she obtained there, and that what occurred within the room is “a blur.”

Democrats swiftly started calling on Swalwell, who’s served in Congress since 2013, to finish his marketing campaign Friday.

Rep. Jimmy Gomez, a fellow California Democrat who was co-chairing Swalwell’s marketing campaign, referred to as the girl’s descriptions of the alleged encounters “the ugliest and most serious accusations imaginable” and stated he would resign from the marketing campaign.

“I cannot in good conscience remain in any role with this campaign, and I am stepping down from it effective immediately,” he stated in an announcement. “The congressman should leave the race now so there can be full accountability without doubt, distraction, or delay.”

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) additionally withdrew his help for Swalwell.

“I have read the San Francisco Chronicle’s account and I am deeply distressed by its allegations,” he stated. “This woman was brave to come forward, and we should take her story seriously. I am withdrawing my endorsement immediately, and believe that he should withdraw from the race.”

The severe allegations are anticipated to set off a serious shakeup within the California gubernatorial main. Among the crowded pool of Democrats working, Swalwell has been main alongside Rep. Katie Porter and billionaire philanthropist Tom Steyer. Party management has been calling on low-polling Democrats to drop out of the open main, letting help coalesce behind higher-polling Democrats to keep away from Republicans ending within the prime two and edging Democrats out of the overall election.

Need assist? Visit RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s web site.