Sexual Misconduct Allegations Rock US Congress and Eric Swalwell

Former Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell has resigned from Congress and withdrawn his candidacy for governor of California following a series of sexual misconduct and rape allegations from multiple women.

The allegations, which surfaced in April 2026, include claims of rape, sexual assault and the sending of unsolicited explicit imagery. Swalwell, who had been a frontrunner in the race for California governor, has denied all accusations, describing them as a calculated and transparent political hit job.

Allegations of Sexual Assault and Rape

A former staffer of Swalwell alleged in an interview with CNN that the congressman raped her in 2024 after she had stopped working in his office. The woman stated that she was heavily intoxicated during the incident and that Swalwell did not stop despite her attempts to push him off and saying no. She reported being left bruised and bleeding.

The same former staffer alleged a second instance of nonconsensual sexual contact in 2019 while she was still employed by him. She stated that after a night of heavy drinking, she woke up naked in a hotel room with Swalwell and felt physically that they had engaged in sexual contact, though she had no memory of the event.

Another woman, Lonna Drewes, alleged that Swalwell drugged and raped her in a hotel room in 2018. Drewes, who was working as a model in Beverly Hills at the time, stated that she had consumed only one glass of wine but found herself unable to move upon arriving at the hotel room. She alleged that Swalwell choked her, causing her to lose consciousness.

Harassment and Misconduct Claims

Additional women have come forward with reports of sexual misconduct. One woman who connected with Swalwell online over shared interests in Democratic politics alleged that the congressman kissed her and touched her leg without consent at a bar before she ended up intoxicated in his hotel room with little memory of what occurred.

Social media creator Ally Sammarco reported receiving unsolicited nude messages from the congressman after she had reached out to him on Twitter to discuss politics.

Further allegations involve a former staffer who was 21 when hired at Swalwell’s district office in Castro Valley, California, in 2019. She claimed that Swalwell pursued her romantically via Snapchat, sending images of his genitals and requesting nude pictures in return. She also alleged that he attempted to kiss her in her car and asked her to perform oral sex.

Legal and Political Consequences

The allegations have triggered a Manhattan District Attorney’s investigation into the congressman’s conduct. Following the reporting of these accusations, top Democrats called for Swalwell to end his campaign for governor.

Swalwell’s attorney, Sara Azari, released a statement defending the former lawmaker:

These accusations are false, fabricated, and deeply offensive – a calculated and transparent political hit job. The timing, nature, and coordinated rollout of these vile and heinous allegations speak for themselves. Here’s neither about justice, nor the truth.

Sara Azari, Attorney for Eric Swalwell

Swalwell himself categorized the allegations as false and noted that they emerged on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor. He stated that he has spent nearly 20 years serving the public as a prosecutor and congressman and has always protected women.

Despite these denials, the combined pressure of the criminal investigation and the volume of public allegations led to his resignation from Congress and his exit from the California gubernatorial race.