In a video response, Eric Swalwell issued an apology to his wife, though he denied the allegations from CNN. Swalwell suggested the allegations were released on the eve of the June 2 primary to derail his campaign, claiming to be the frontrunner in the primary, though Real Clear Politics' average shows him trailing Republican Steve Hilton.
At least four women have accused Eric Swalwell of sexual misconduct, including a former staffer's claim of sexual assault twice. The San Francisco Chronicle published an account of a woman who said she was sexually assaulted by Eric Swalwell on two separate occasions. One woman accused Eric Swalwell of kissing her and touching her leg without consent. A former staffer of Rep. Eric Swalwell alleges he raped her when she was heavily intoxicated and left her bruised and bleeding. The former staffer said Swalwell had nonconsensual sexual contact with her a second time in 2019 while she was drunk.
Three other women alleged various kinds of sexual misconduct by Swalwell, including sending unsolicited explicit messages or nude photos. An influencer claimed Eric Swalwell sent her lewd photos on social media. Ally Sammarco described receiving unsolicited nude messages from Swalwell after reaching out to him on Twitter.
The former staff member said she woke up naked in Eric Swalwell's hotel room in September 2019 with little recollection of the night before. The former staff member met Eric Swalwell at a gala five years later and recalled pushing him away and saying 'no'. The woman's story is corroborated by text messages and her former boyfriend.
Eric Swalwell denied allegations from former staff of sexual misconduct, stating they are false and come on the eve of an election. Swalwell stated he has served the public for nearly 20 years and will defend himself with facts and legal action. Eric Swalwell's legal team sent cease-and-desist letters to two of the accusers on Thursday. Swalwell stated his focus is to be with his wife and children and defend his service against lies. Swalwell's attorney denied Swalwell has ever had nonconsensual sex with any woman or sexual relations with any member of his staff.
Eric Swalwell's campaign suffered a major blow as several staffers resigned and prominent leaders withdrew support due to sexual misconduct allegations. Three campaign employees, including former adviser Courtni Pugh, confirmed they had exited Eric Swalwell's campaign. One member of Swalwell's staff quit immediately after receiving CNN's detailed list of questions.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned Eric Swalwell on Friday. California senator Adam Schiff rescinded his endorsement and called on Eric Swalwell to withdraw from the race. Arizona senator Ruben Gallego pulled his endorsement of Eric Swalwell. Antonio Villaraigosa called upon Eric Swalwell to exit the governor's race and withdraw from Congress. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged Eric Swalwell to drop out of the race and called for investigation with transparency.
Eric Swalwell had been a frontrunner in the Democratic race to succeed Gavin Newsom. Swalwell claimed to be the frontrunner in the primary, though Real Clear Politics' average shows him trailing Republican Steve Hilton.
Posts circulated on social media claiming a groundswell of women would go public with accounts of inappropriate behavior by Eric Swalwell. Eric Swalwell disavowed the online discourse as false and suggested it was timed to derail his campaign.
What specific evidence, such as text messages or witness testimonies, has been verified by independent authorities remains unclear. It is also unknown whether there are any ongoing criminal or civil investigations into the allegations against Eric Swalwell.
The exact timeline and context of the alleged incidents, including dates and locations, have not been fully disclosed. How many total accusers have come forward, and what are their identities and relationships to Swalwell, is not publicly confirmed.
The impact these allegations will have on the upcoming primary election and Swalwell's political future is uncertain. The discrepancy in the number of women accusing Eric Swalwell of sexual misconduct—with some reports citing at least four women and others referencing three other women plus the San Francisco Chronicle account—creates confusion about the scale of the allegations, potentially affecting public perception of the scandal's scope and credibility. The varied accounts of specific details, from lewd photos to incidents at a hotel room and gala, suggest different alleged incidents and victims, complicating the narrative and raising questions about the consistency and veracity of the claims.