California Representative Eric Swalwell is facing a major scandal just months before the June primary for governor.
A former congressional staffer has come forward with accusations of sexual assault, which Swalwell has called “absolutely false.” Despite the denial, the allegations have triggered a firestorm within the Democratic party, with several high-ranking officials calling for him to end his campaign.
The accusations first surfaced in the San Francisco Chronicle, detailing two separate nonconsensual encounters. One reportedly took place in 2019 while the woman worked in his district office, and the second allegedly occurred in 2024. The woman later told CNN that Swalwell raped her during the second incident. “I was pushing him off of me, saying no,” she said during an interview where her identity was hidden. When asked about his reaction, she stated, “He didn’t stop.”
Swalwell quickly released a video statement to address the claims head on. “These allegations of sexual assault are flat false. They are absolutely false. They did not happen. They have never happened,” he said. “I will fight them with everything that I have.”
While he firmly denied the assault claims, he did admit to having a complicated personal history. Swalwell apologized to his wife for “mistakes in judgment in my past,” though he did not go into detail about what those mistakes were. He told the public, “I’m no saint,” but argued that those issues were private matters. “Those mistakes are between me and my wife, and to her, I apologize deeply for putting her in this position.”
The political fallout has been immediate. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has already called for a formal investigation into the matter. Swalwell, however, believes the timing is suspicious, noting that he is currently the frontrunner in the race for governor.
He leaned on his professional background to defend his character, stating, “For over 20 years, I have served the public as a city councilman, as a member of Congress and as a prosecutor who went to court on behalf of victims, particularly on behalf of sexual assault victims.
As of now, Swalwell shows no signs of stepping aside, even as pressure mounts from within his own party to exit the race.
