Eric Swalwell, a candidate for California governor, rejects claims of sexual assault. Six hours ago. Max Matza. Images from Getty. Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, a top contender for California’s next governor, has rejected claims of sexual misconduct by ex-staffers. “These allegations are false and timed just before an election against the leading gubernatorial candidate,” he stated, following accusations from several women spanning sexual harassment to rape. His rivals—and some backers, such as House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries—have urged him to drop out. Democrats will select their nominee in a June 2 primary. The winner, poised to become the next governor in the heavily Democratic state, will advance to the November 3 general election. The initial allegation against Swalwell surfaced publicly on Friday in the San Francisco Chronicle. A former staffer informed the paper that, soon after her hiring in his Castro Valley district office, Swalwell started making improper remarks, such as soliciting sex from her and sending sexual texts. The unnamed woman also claimed that in September 2019, she awoke naked in the congressman’s hotel room with scant memory of the previous night’s events. Five years on, after leaving his staff, she encountered him for drinks at a gala. She stated that she struggled to remember specifics from that night but remembered shoving him away and saying “no.” She also mentioned waking up with evidence of sexual trauma on her body. Her account was reportedly backed by text messages she sent to friends at the time and by her ex-boyfriend, who informed the newspaper that he had urged her to report the incident to police. Later that Friday, CNN released allegations from four women who had worked for him, also accusing him of sexual misconduct. Swalwell’s lawyers had reportedly sent cease-and-desist letters to two of the accusers the previous day, per the broadcaster. Several prominent California Democrats, including Sen. Adam Schiff and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, called on Swalwell to withdraw from the race that Friday evening. Pelosi stated, “This extremely sensitive matter must be appropriately investigated with full transparency and accountability. As I discussed with Congressman Swalwell, it is clear that is best done outside of a gubernatorial campaign.” Swalwell strongly rejected the allegations in his Friday statement. “For nearly 20 years, I have served the public—as a prosecutor and a congressman—and have always protected women.”
