Rep. Eric Swalwell Accused of Sexual Misconduct and Assault

Rep. Eric Swalwell, a Democratic candidate for governor of California, has suspended his campaign following a series of sexual misconduct allegations. The decision follows reports from multiple women, including a former staff member, who have accused the congressman of sexual assault and other forms of misconduct.

The allegations first gained significant public attention on April 10, 2026, through reporting by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN. A former aide who worked for Swalwell from 2019 until 2021 alleged that the congressman sexually assaulted her on two separate occasions when she was too intoxicated to consent.

Details of the Allegations

According to a CNN interview, one former staffer alleged that Swalwell raped her in 2024, after she had already stopped working in his office. She stated that she was heavily intoxicated during the incident and that she was left bruised and bleeding. The woman claimed she told him to stop and pushed him off of her, but that he did not stop.

This woman also alleged a second incident of nonconsensual sexual contact occurring in 2019 while she was still employed by Swalwell. She reported waking up naked with him in a hotel room after a night of heavy drinking, stating she had no memory of the events but could feel physically that sexual contact had occurred.

Three other women provided accounts of misconduct to CNN. One woman reported that Swalwell kissed her and touched her leg without her consent at a bar before she ended up in his hotel room while extremely drunk, with little memory of what happened. Two other women, including Democratic influencer Ally Sammarco, alleged that Swalwell sent them unsolicited explicit photos and videos of his penis.

Response and Legal Actions

Rep. Eric Swalwell has firmly denied all allegations. In a video posted to social media on April 10, 2026, he stated that the claims of sexual assault are flat false and that they did not happen, they have never happened.

In a written statement, Swalwell asserted that the allegations were timed to appear on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor. He stated that for nearly 20 years, he has served as a prosecutor and congressman and has always protected women.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Swalwell’s attorney, Elias Dabaie, issued a cease-and-desist letter to the former staffer. The letter demanded she stop making statements accusing Swalwell of sexual assault and nonconsensual sexual encounters, threatening legal action if the statements were not retracted.

Political and Legal Context

The allegations led to immediate pressure from political opponents, with some candidates calling for Swalwell to drop out of the California gubernatorial race. Prior to the April 10 reports, Swalwell’s campaign had denied online allegations of inappropriate behavior, claiming he was being targeted due to his status as a leading candidate.

Further legal developments indicate that the Manhattan district attorney is investigating abuse claims against the congressman.

CNN stated it corroborated the women’s accounts through interviews with friends and family members and by reviewing messages exchanged between the women and Swalwell. NBC News noted that it had not independently corroborated the stories.