California gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell accused of sexual assault

U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-California), a California gubernatorial candidate, is under fire after a former staffer of his told the San Francisco Chronicle that he sexually assaulted her twice, an allegation that the representative has labeled as false.

The woman, who has chosen to remain anonymous as she still works in Congress, told the Chronicle that Swalwell began pursuing a sexual relationship with her soon after she was hired to work in his Castro Valley district office in 2019, when she was 21. 

Swalwell released a prepared statement shortly after the Chronicle article was published Friday. 

"These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor,” he wrote. “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."

The ex-staffer told the Chronicle the relationship between her and her boss began on Snapchat, where Swalwell, who has been married for about 9 years, would send her nude images of himself and ask for the same in return. She also said that while driving him to an event, Swalwell asked her to perform oral sex on him, which she did.

While still working for him in September 2019, the woman said Swalwell invited her out for drinks and she became so intoxicated that she did not remember the night. She said she woke up naked in Swalwell’s bed the next morning and “could feel the effect of vaginal intercourse,” the article reads.

In April 2024, the woman was no longer working for Swalwell but attended a charity gala where he was being honored. While she was inebriated, the woman claims Swalwell forced himself on her even though she remembers telling him to stop.

The woman said she did not file a police report because she was afraid they would not believe her.

The Chronicle reviewed medical records of pregnancy and STD tests the woman obtained soon after the 2024 incident and spoke with individuals whom the woman confided in at the time of the alleged assault.

Rumors of Swalwell’s alleged inappropriate behavior have been circling on social media in recent weeks, with left-wing political influencers sharing that news articles, like the one published by the Chronicle, would soon come to light.

During the first stop on his campaign tour, before the article was published, Swalwell told reporters he was aware of the rumors and was adamant they were false.

The Chronicle article also references a cease-and-desist letter Swalwell’s attorney sent to the woman late Thursday night, threatening to sue her if she did not walk back her allegations.

Recent polling shows Swalwell is neck-and-neck in the race for governor with fellow Democratic candidates Tom Steyer and Katie Porter.