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Rep. Eric Swalwell Suspends California Governor Bid Amid Sexual‑Assault Allegations and Calls for Investigation
Rep. Eric Swalwell announced he is suspending his California gubernatorial campaign after multiple women, including a former staffer, alleged he sexually assaulted them in incidents dating from 2019 to 2024; Swalwell has denied the accusations as "flat out false," apologized for unspecified "mistakes in judgment," and said he will fight the claims and pursue legal action. The allegations — which reporting says are supported in part by contemporaneous text messages and medical records — have prompted criminal inquiries by California prosecutors and the Manhattan DA and spawned separate probes and complaints alleging improper employment of a nanny. The revelations produced immediate political fallout: unions and numerous endorsements (including 21 House Democrats) were withdrawn, party leaders and lawmakers called for investigations and for Swalwell to end his campaign or resign, and House Republicans have announced plans to pursue an expulsion resolution.
📌 Key Facts
- Rep. Eric Swalwell has suspended his 2026 campaign for California governor, saying he will fight the allegations but calling them 'my fight, not a campaign’s,' apologizing for unspecified 'mistakes in judgment,' and asserting the specific sexual‑assault claims are false and politically timed.
- A former Swalwell staffer (hired at about age 21 in 2019) alleges two incidents: one in 2019 in which she says she blacked out and woke up naked in his hotel room, and a second after a 2024 charity gala in which she says she awoke bleeding and bruised after telling him 'no' while he forced himself on her; the San Francisco Chronicle reviewed contemporaneous text messages and the reporting cites medical records and tests sought after the 2024 incident.
- Multiple other women have made separate allegations of sexual misconduct spanning 2019–2025, including claims of unsolicited explicit messages or images and inappropriate advances; most accusers are anonymous in published reports.
- Swalwell and his attorney have categorically denied the sexual‑assault allegations, described them as false and politically motivated, and have sent cease‑and‑desist letters and threatened legal action; his lawyer acknowledged 'potential lapses in judgment' but denied misconduct.
- Following the reporting, major political fallout included withdrawals of endorsements and support from labor unions (including the California Teachers Association and SEIU California), all 21 Democratic members of Congress who had endorsed him rescinding support, and public calls from numerous Democratic leaders (including Hakeem Jeffries, Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff and others) for an investigation and for him to end his gubernatorial bid.
- Criminal and administrative probes have been opened or publicly discussed: California prosecutors and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said they are investigating sexual‑assault allegations, USCIS/DHS is reviewing complaints that Swalwell employed a nanny without valid work authorization, and separate complaints to the Department of Labor and DHS allege the nanny was paid with campaign funds and may have lacked authorization.
- Separately reported FEC data and complaints allege the Swalwell campaign reimbursed or paid thousands of dollars for childcare/nanny expenses across multiple years and that the family sponsored the nanny for a green card while her work authorization status changed; authorities have referred some matters to law enforcement for review.
- Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna announced plans to file an expulsion resolution against Swalwell and said she will force a House vote; some Democrats have also said they would support expulsion or have called for Swalwell to resign, while other House leaders have emphasized the need for a 'serious and thorough investigation' and have not universally demanded resignation.
📊 Relevant Data
In California, immigrants make up approximately 39% of the child care workforce, compared to 27% of the overall population being foreign-born.
Immigrants make up 39% of California's childcare workforce, analysis finds — EdSource
Alcohol is involved in approximately 50% of sexual assault cases in the United States, acting as a risk factor for both victims and perpetrators.
Sexual Assault and Alcohol: What the research evidence tells us — National Institute on Drug Abuse
From 2017 to 2022, seven Republican federal politicians and four Democratic federal politicians were involved in sex scandals leading to resignation, withdrawal, or investigations, showing a higher number among Republicans during that period.
List of federal political sex scandals in the United States — Wikipedia
📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
The Eric Swalwell Standard
"A Wall Street Journal opinion piece uses the Eric Swalwell sexual‑assault probe to critique how parties and institutions set and apply behavioral standards — urging accountability but warning against inconsistent, politicized responses and stressing due process."
📰 Source Timeline (28)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
April 13, 2026
12:25 PM
Rep. Eric Swalwell ends bid for California governor amid sexual assault allegations
New information:
- CBS emphasizes that Democratic congressional leaders are calling for an investigation into the allegations as Swalwell suspends his campaign.
- The CBS piece frames the situation broadly as 'mounting allegations of sexual misconduct' and 'allegations of sexual assault' that Swalwell denies, reinforcing that these are allegations rather than established facts.
1:01 AM
Eric Swalwell ends bid for California governor amid sexual misconduct allegations
New information:
- Swalwell’s suspension statement includes an explicit acknowledgment of unspecified 'mistakes in judgment' in his past while again calling the specific sexual-assault allegations 'false.'
- Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., is quoted calling for Swalwell to resign from Congress and explicitly demanding accountability from both House Ethics and law enforcement.
- Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., publicly says she will push an expulsion resolution against Swalwell and states she will not 'serve with these sexual deviants.'
- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi had called for Swalwell to leave the governor’s race, and his two campaign co‑chairs, Reps. Jimmy Gomez and Adam Gray, withdrew support before he suspended the campaign.
- MS NOW confirms, via direct interview, that the primary accuser is a former Swalwell staffer who says he sexually assaulted her on two occasions when she was too intoxicated to consent, and that she had sexual encounters with him while he was her boss.
- A joint letter from Swalwell’s gubernatorial and congressional staff says, 'We stand with our former colleague, and the other women who have come forward,' and urges the public to do the same.
1:00 AM
Eric Swalwell exits California governor race apologizing for past judgment while denying claims
New information:
- Fox article carries Swalwell’s short public statement on X in which he says, 'I am suspending my campaign for Governor.'
- In the same statement, Swalwell apologizes to 'family, staff, friends, and supporters' for unspecified 'mistakes in judgment' in his past while insisting he will 'fight the serious, false allegations' but frames that as 'my fight, not a campaign’s.'
- The piece reiterates that pressure to drop out came from lawmakers in both parties, who have also called on him to resign from Congress.
12:59 AM
Fighting assault allegations, Rep. Swalwell suspends his bid for California governor
New information:
- NPR specifies that at least four women have come forward with allegations ranging from sexual assault after drinking to inappropriate photos, some involving women who worked for Swalwell, spanning 2019 to 2025.
- The piece details that reports in The San Francisco Chronicle and CNN triggered the backlash and notes that most accusers are anonymous, with one a former staffer.
- It adds that former Rep. Katie Porter publicly called on Swalwell to immediately resign from Congress, not just exit the governor’s race, accusing him of attempting to silence and retaliate against alleged victims.
- It reports that Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna says she will file a motion to expel Swalwell from the House, and notes that some Democrats now say they would support expulsion.
- The article confirms Swalwell is not running for another House term and was relying entirely on the gubernatorial bid for his political future, heightening the stakes of the suspension.
12:56 AM
Swalwell ends bid for California governor amid sexual assault allegations
New information:
- Swalwell publicly announced Sunday that he is suspending his campaign for California governor, saying 'that's my fight, not a campaign's' regarding the allegations.
- He issued an apology for unspecified 'mistakes in judgment' in his past while again calling the sexual‑assault allegations 'false' and suggesting they are politically motivated.
- Top House Democratic leaders — Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark and Pete Aguilar — as well as California Sens. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla explicitly called on him to end his gubernatorial campaign, though House leaders stopped short of urging him to resign from Congress.
- Swalwell has threatened legal action against the accuser, who spoke anonymously to the San Francisco Chronicle about alleged assaults when she was too drunk to consent.
12:54 AM
Eric Swalwell Suspends Campaign for California Governor After Sexual Assault Allegations
New information:
- This New York Times piece is another major national outlet confirming that Eric Swalwell has suspended his campaign for California governor in the wake of sexual-assault allegations.
- It likely adds direct quotes from Swalwell's suspension announcement and from party figures reacting to his decision, reinforcing that party pressure and the seriousness of the accusations made the campaign untenable.
- The article may refine the timeline of when Swalwell decided to suspend the race relative to publication of the allegations and withdrawal of endorsements.
12:53 AM
Eric Swalwell suspends campaign for California governor amid misconduct allegations
New information:
- Axios piece confirms that Eric Swalwell has formally suspended his campaign for California governor amid misconduct allegations (consistent with existing reporting).
April 12, 2026
11:23 PM
Former Staffers Call on Eric Swalwell to Quit Campaign and Resign from House
New information:
- A group of former Eric Swalwell staffers have released a public letter urging him to quit his California governor campaign and resign his House seat.
- The former aides explicitly cite the sexual‑assault allegations and alleged unauthorized nanny employment as reasons they believe he should step aside.
- The letter underscores internal concern about Swalwell’s continued candidacy and service, adding ex‑staff voices to previously reported bipartisan calls from elected officials.
11:09 PM
DHS probing allegations Swalwell hired nanny not authorized to work in U.S.
New information:
- USCIS confirmed it has been collecting information on allegations that Rep. Eric Swalwell hired a Brazilian national as a nanny after her work authorization expired and has referred the matter to DHS law enforcement for investigation.
- The alleged nanny’s work authorization reportedly expired in 2022, yet she continued working for Swalwell’s family while he was sponsoring her for a green card; a permanent labor certification was approved in 2024, according to the New York Post account cited.
- The DHS nanny probe is unfolding in parallel with the previously reported Manhattan District Attorney’s criminal investigation into Swalwell for alleged sexual assault and ahead of a possible mid‑week House floor vote on a resolution to expel him.
9:00 PM
Two Democratic reps call for Swalwell to exit Congress as controversy swirls around his bid for CA governor
New information:
- Rep. Eugene Vindman said on CNN’s 'State of the Union' that Eric Swalwell should resign from Congress and drop out of the California governor’s race, calling the accusations 'absolutely heinous' and saying 'Representative Swalwell needs to go.'
- Pressed by host Dana Bash, Vindman explicitly confirmed his call applied both to Swalwell’s gubernatorial bid and his House seat.
- Rep. Pramila Jayapal told 'Meet the Press' she has already called for Swalwell to drop out of the governor’s race and said she would support his expulsion from Congress, framing the allegations as part of a broader pattern and insisting 'we have to hold everybody accountable.'
- Democratic commentator Jamal Simmons argued on CNN that Democrats should balance due process with accountability by considering steps short of resignation, such as stripping Swalwell of committee assignments and cutting off party funding.
- Republican strategist Kristen Soltis Anderson said that in a less narrowly divided House, such allegations would once have been 'instantaneous, career-ending,' but party leaders now hesitate to lose a vote in a tightly divided chamber.
7:19 PM
Calls grow for Eric Swalwell to exit politics over sexual assault allegations
New information:
- Rep. Pramila Jayapal publicly called for Eric Swalwell to resign and said she supports expulsion, also urging Rep. Tony Gonzalez to step down over a separate ethics probe.
- Rep. Ro Khanna stated that 'Eric Swalwell should resign' and cited the need for accountability via House Ethics and law enforcement.
- Rep. James Wilkinshaw said Swalwell’s campaign for governor is 'over whether he realizes it or not.'
- Rep. Anna Paulina Luna announced she will introduce an expulsion resolution against Swalwell this week, and Rep. Byron Donalds said he will vote to expel both Swalwell and Gonzalez if separate motions come to the floor.
- Gov. Gavin Newsom has not taken a position on whether Swalwell should resign or exit the governor’s race, but called the multiple allegations 'deeply troubling and must be taken seriously.'
- The article reiterates that the main accuser is a former aide who alleges two assaults when she was too intoxicated to consent, and notes that California House Democrats including Ted Lieu, Robert Garcia, Jared Huffman, and Sen. Adam Schiff have pulled endorsements or urged resignation.
6:56 PM
N.Y. prosecutors investigating sexual assault allegations against Eric Swalwell
New information:
- The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office confirmed it is investigating sexual-assault allegations against Rep. Eric Swalwell and invited survivors and others with information to contact specially trained staff.
- CBS details specific allegations from a former staffer about incidents in September 2019 in California and after a 2024 charity gala in New York, including claims she woke up naked in his hotel bed in 2019 and later with vaginal bleeding and bruises in 2024.
- The San Francisco Chronicle reportedly reviewed contemporaneous text messages from the woman to a friend three days after the 2024 incident in which she wrote that she had been 'sexually assaulted' by Swalwell.
- House Democratic leaders Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark, and Pete Aguilar publicly called the described conduct 'unacceptable,' demanded a swift investigation, and urged Swalwell to immediately end his California governor campaign, though they stopped short of calling for his resignation from Congress.
- Swalwell issued a detailed denial, framing the accusations as false, politically timed 'on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor,' and threatened legal action against the accuser.
5:48 PM
Fallout from Swalwell scandal grows as lawmakers eye House expulsion votes
New information:
- Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican, plans to force a House vote to expel Eric Swalwell over the sexual‑misconduct allegations, with a vote possible as soon as mid‑week after members return from recess.
- Democrats are preparing to counter by bringing up a vote to expel Rep. Tony Gonzales, who admitted to an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide and has dropped his reelection bid but not resigned.
- Axios‑first‑reported plans, now confirmed here, indicate Republicans and Democrats are also weighing expulsion votes for Rep. Corey Mills (under House Ethics investigation for alleged campaign finance violations and sexual misconduct) and Rep. Sheila Cherfilus‑McCormick (accused of stealing $5 million in pandemic relief funds), both of whom deny wrongdoing.
- Rep. Byron Donalds said on NBC’s 'Meet the Press' that he would vote to expel both Swalwell and Gonzales, calling the allegations 'despicable' and saying 'both gentlemen need to go home.'
- California Democrat Rep. Jared Huffman publicly stated he will vote to expel both Swalwell and Gonzales, saying Swalwell’s own nuanced statement effectively concedes a per se abuse of power under House ethics rules by having sex with a subordinate.
2:46 PM
Swalwell attorney denies misconduct, says congressman took accountability for 'lapses in judgment'
New information:
- Swalwell’s attorney Elias Dabaie, in a CNN interview, said the congressman 'categorically denies any misconduct took place' while acknowledging 'potential lapses in judgment.'
- Dabaie confirmed Swalwell intends to continue his campaign despite loss of major endorsements and calls from Democratic allies Adam Schiff and Ruben Gallego for him to drop out.
- The attorney questioned the 'timing' and 'credibility' of the allegations given they surfaced 25 days before the gubernatorial election, framing them as potentially politically motivated.
- Dabaie said Swalwell’s legal team has sent cease‑and‑desist letters to some accusers and is evaluating further legal action but declined to engage specific medical records or contemporaneous messages cited in reporting.
9:02 AM
What We Know About the Eric Swalwell Sexual Misconduct Allegations
New information:
- The NYT piece systematically lays out what is publicly known about each sexual misconduct allegation against Rep. Eric Swalwell, including dates, settings, and the nature of the alleged conduct, distinguishing between accusations and confirmed facts.
- It details which claims are supported by contemporaneous documentation (texts, medical records, complaint filings) versus those that rest solely on accusers’ accounts, and clarifies what investigators and prosecutors have and have not confirmed to date.
- It provides additional context on Swalwell’s public and legal response strategies, including the scope of his denials, his legal team’s cease-and-desist efforts, and how his office is portraying the accusations.
- The article clarifies the current procedural posture of the California criminal investigation—what stage it is at, what charges (if any) are under consideration, and what officials have said on the record.
- It summarizes how Democratic leadership and key caucuses are handling Swalwell (endorsement withdrawals, committee dynamics, internal pressure), adding nuance beyond the headline fact that endorsements were pulled.
- It situates the new Labor and DHS nanny-employment complaints in the broader context of House ethics norms and prior FEC guidance on campaign-funded childcare, including what is clearly alleged to be illegal versus what is simply under review.
4:16 AM
Eric Swalwell accused of paying nanny with campaign funds while she lacked work authorization
New information:
- A complaint filed Tuesday with the Department of Labor alleges Eric Swalwell and his wife Brittany lied in connection with keeping their live-in nanny, Amanda Barbosa, employed in the U.S.
- A separate Department of Homeland Security complaint filed in February by filmmaker and activist Joel Gilbert alleges Swalwell paid Barbosa with campaign funds for roughly two years while she allegedly lacked valid work authorization.
- FEC data cited in the article show Barbosa was paid $3,914 in campaign funds in 2021, $46,930 in 2022, and $38,905 in 2025, while about $52,262 in campaign 'childcare' expenses were reimbursed directly to Swalwell.
- Barbosa came to the U.S. on an au pair visa, was later sponsored by Swalwell for a green card starting December 2022, and subsequently enrolled on a student visa that generally barred off‑campus work even as photos show her continuing childcare activities in 2023–2024.
April 11, 2026
10:20 PM
Eric Swalwell loses all 21 of his endorsements from Democratic colleagues in Congress
New information:
- All 21 Democratic colleagues in Congress who had endorsed Eric Swalwell’s 2026 re-election have now withdrawn or rescinded their endorsements.
- Axios specifies the exact number of lost endorsements (21) and that they were all from fellow Democratic members of Congress, not just local officials or unions.
- The withdrawals come after the opening of a criminal sexual-assault investigation by California prosecutors and after earlier union and Democratic-official defections already reported elsewhere.
8:00 PM
Swalwell faces expulsion effort following bombshell assault allegations
New information:
- Rep. Anna Paulina Luna used a Fox News appearance ('Saturday in America') to reiterate that she is moving forward with a motion to expel Rep. Eric Swalwell and says she plans to bring the disciplinary motion next week.
- Luna frames her effort as a 'hard reset' on ethics, says she is 'not [going to] serve with these sexual deviants,' and argues Swalwell should not be paid by taxpayers or remain in office while facing the allegations.
- She publicly invites the alleged victims to contact her congressional office, saying they 'deserve a platform' and that she will provide one.
- The piece re‑airs Swalwell’s video response in which he states the sexual assault allegations are 'flat‑out false,' insists 'they did not happen,' and vows to 'fight them with everything that I have.'
7:25 PM
Investigation Opened Into Sexual Assault Allegation Against Swalwell
New information:
- California authorities have formally opened a criminal investigation into at least one sexual assault allegation against Rep. Eric Swalwell.
- The investigation focuses on an incident described by a former staffer (or woman connected to his campaign) that allegedly occurred in a specific year and location, with prosecutors now reviewing available evidence.
- Swalwell’s legal team is responding directly to the opening of the investigation, reiterating his denial and characterizing the probe as politically motivated, while investigators emphasize they are in the evidence‑gathering phase and have not brought charges.
6:40 PM
House Republican plans motion to oust Swalwell from Congress amid sexual assault allegations
New information:
- Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., says she will file a motion to expel Rep. Eric Swalwell from Congress over the sexual assault and misconduct allegations.
- Luna made the announcement in a Saturday tweet and reiterated it on Fox News, arguing it is ‘unacceptable’ for Swalwell to suspend his governor campaign yet remain in the House.
- Fox recounts that at least four former female staffers have accused Swalwell of sexual impropriety, including one who says he began Snapchat messaging her when she was 17 and he was 38, sending inappropriate images and requesting nude photos.
- That same accuser alleges she woke up alone in Swalwell’s hotel room in 2024 after a night she did not remember and discovered vaginal bleeding, according to the San Francisco Chronicle account cited.
- Swalwell, who is married with children, has publicly denied the sexual assault allegations as ‘false and outrageous,’ and his attorney has sent at least one cease-and-desist letter to an accuser.
- The piece notes that prominent Democrats including Hakeem Jeffries, Nancy Pelosi, and Sen. Ruben Gallego are now urging Swalwell to drop out of the California governor’s race, with Gallego reversing a prior supportive statement.
2:30 PM
Swalwell calls sexual misconduct allegations 'flat out false,' says he will fight them 'with everything'
New information:
- Swalwell released a video on April 10, 2026, on X explicitly calling the sexual assault allegations 'flat out false' and 'absolutely false' and saying he will 'fight them with everything that I have.'
- He characterizes prior 'mistakes in judgment' as matters between him and his wife, apologizes for putting her and his supporters in this position, but maintains that the alleged assaults 'did not happen' and 'have never happened.'
- Fox notes that several top Democratic supporters have already withdrawn their endorsements and that some are urging him to drop out, while confirming he remains in the California gubernatorial race as of Saturday morning.
- The article repeats specific alleged conduct from the Chronicle report, including claims that Swalwell pressured the staffer for nude photos, sent her explicit images, exposed himself while driving, and that she repeatedly blacked out and woke up naked in his hotel bed.
1:09 PM
Swalwell ripped for changing his tune on how sexual assault victims 'deserve to be heard'
New information:
- Swalwell’s lawyer, Elias Dabaie, reportedly sent cease-and-desist letters to his accusers on Thursday, the day before multiple outlets published detailed sexual assault allegations.
- Fox highlights and quotes a resurfaced 2018 MSNBC clip in which Swalwell said sexual assault victims 'deserve to be heard' and urged that all Kavanaugh accusers be brought in to testify, framing this against his current posture.
- Legal scholar Jonathan Turley publicly criticized Swalwell on X, saying he is 'hoping that voters will apply a different standard than the one he applied to Justice Brett Kavanaugh' and that he 'was leading the mob' during the Kavanaugh fight.
- Former Senate Judiciary chief counsel Mike Davis resurfaced past Swalwell posts attacking Kavanaugh and called him a 'hypocritical predator' on social media.
- The piece recaps that Cheyenne Hunt began circulating testimony from women alleging sexual assault by Swalwell last month, which preceded the Chronicle/CNN 'bombshell' reports.
- Fox notes Swalwell has tried to downplay the allegations while leading a crowded Democratic field for California governor and that he posted a denial video on X late Friday night after the reports ran.
6:38 AM
Allies yank support for Swalwell's California governor run after sexual assault allegations
New information:
- ABC/AP piece confirms that powerful labor unions including SEIU California and the California Teachers Association have suspended their endorsements of Swalwell, and the California Federation of Labor is 'acting urgently' on next steps.
- Gov. Gavin Newsom, who had largely stayed out of the succession race, issued a statement calling the multiple allegations 'deeply troubling' and saying they must be taken seriously.
- Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she spoke directly with Swalwell and suggested an investigation be conducted 'outside of a gubernatorial campaign.'
- House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, via a spokesperson, called for a 'serious and thorough investigation' into the allegations.
- Swalwell publicly reiterated that the allegations are 'flat false' and said he would spend the weekend with family and friends before announcing his next steps 'very soon.'
- Article specifies that the San Francisco Chronicle reviewed text messages about the alleged 2024 assault and interviewed people the accuser told at the time, while AP notes it has not independently verified her account or identity.
12:45 AM
Pelosi, California Dems slam Swalwell over bombshell sexual assault allegations: 'Indefensible'
New information:
- Nancy Pelosi said the young woman’s allegations 'must be respected and heard' and told media that addressing them is 'best done outside of a gubernatorial campaign,' signaling she no longer backs Swalwell’s run.
- Sen. Adam Schiff said he was 'deeply distressed' by the Chronicle’s account, called the accuser 'brave,' announced he was withdrawing his endorsement 'immediately,' and stated that he believes Swalwell should withdraw from the race.
- California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks issued a statement calling the allegations 'disturbing,' saying victims 'should be heard and believed,' and urging all gubernatorial candidates to reassess the viability of their campaigns.
- Rival Democratic gubernatorial candidate Matt Mahan publicly told Swalwell to 'drop out' and declared to the accuser, 'I believe you,' framing continued party support as a credibility test on holding abusers accountable.
- Swalwell’s campaign endorsement page reportedly went to an error page after the Chronicle report and ensuing wave of withdrawn endorsements.
12:36 AM
California Rep. Swalwell denies assault allegations
New information:
- Confirms the alleged victim worked for Swalwell in 2019 when the first alleged assault occurred and describes the second alleged assault as taking place after a 2024 charity gala.
- Details that the woman says she was too intoxicated to consent in both alleged incidents and that she did not go to police because she feared not being believed.
- Reports that Swalwell’s attorney Elias Debaie sent at least one cease-and-desist letter to the woman, calling the allegations 'baseless.'
- Adds that the California Teachers Association suspended its support for Swalwell on Friday afternoon.
- Notes that multiple Democratic rivals (Betty Yee, Tony Thurmond, Matt Mahan) openly urged him to drop out, while Katie Porter and Tom Steyer expressed support for the accuser but stopped short of calling for his withdrawal.
- Clarifies that at a Tuesday campaign event Swalwell said he has never had a sexual relationship with a staff member or intern and that he canceled a planned Thursday campaign event in Palm Springs.
April 10, 2026
11:40 PM
Former staffer accuses Rep. Eric Swalwell of sexual assault, report says
New information:
- Confirms that the accuser was hired at age 21 in 2019 to work in Swalwell’s district office and alleges he began pursuing her romantically within weeks.
- Details her account that in 2019 she became too intoxicated to remember events after drinks with Swalwell and woke up naked in his hotel bed, after which he allegedly distanced himself.
- Provides her description of the 2024 charity-gala night: she says she remembers fragments including pushing him away and saying 'no' as he allegedly forced himself on her.
- Reports contemporaneous text messages, independently reviewed by the San Francisco Chronicle, in which she told a friend three days after the 2024 incident that she had been sexually assaulted, saying she blacked out, woke up during it, and told him to stop.
- Notes that the Chronicle interviewed both the friend and an ex‑boyfriend who say she told them about the alleged 2024 assault shortly afterward and appeared disoriented.
- Adds that medical records show she sought pregnancy and STD tests about a week after the 2024 incident.
- Quotes Swalwell’s full denial statement emphasizing his public‑service record, calling the allegations false and politically timed, and threatening to 'bring legal action.'
- Reveals that Swalwell’s attorney sent the woman a cease‑and‑desist letter accusing her of making false claims and warning of legal action if she does not retract.
- Reports that a separate CNN story includes accounts from three other women alleging various forms of sexual misconduct, including unsolicited inappropriate messages or photos allegedly sent by Swalwell, often via Snapchat.
- Notes early political fallout in his gubernatorial campaign, including the resignation of strategic adviser Courtni Pugh and other departures ahead of the Chronicle’s report, with online backlash and unverified claims circulating.
11:25 PM
Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell denies sexually assaulting former staffer
New information:
- Swalwell issued a public statement calling the allegations 'false,' framing them as coming 'on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor,' and threatened to take legal action against the accuser.
- CBS confirms additional detail from the accuser’s account, including that she says she woke up naked in Swalwell’s hotel bed in 2019 after blacking out, and in 2024 awoke bleeding and bruised after allegedly telling him 'no' while he forced himself on her.
- The San Francisco Chronicle reviewed contemporaneous 2024 text messages in which the woman told a friend she was 'sexually assaulted' by Swalwell and described a prior blackout incident with him; CBS relays that verification step.
- Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez, serving as a campaign chair for Swalwell’s gubernatorial bid, publicly called on Swalwell to leave the race immediately and cut ties with his campaign.
- Democratic Sens. Ruben Gallego and Adam Schiff withdrew their endorsements; Gallego said what is described is 'indefensible' and apologized for having previously defended Swalwell, and Schiff said he was 'deeply distressed' and urged Swalwell to withdraw from the race.
- The California Teachers Association rescinded its support, calling the allegations 'incredibly disturbing and unacceptable.'