Photo: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America | CC BY-SA 2.0 | Wikimedia Commons
Former Staffer Accuses Rep. Eric Swalwell of Sexual Assault; Pelosi, Schiff and California Democrats Withdraw Support and Urge Him to Exit Governor’s Race
A former staffer who says she was hired at 21 alleges Rep. Eric Swalwell sexually assaulted her in two incidents — waking up naked in his hotel bed after blacking out in 2019 and being forced on during a 2024 charity gala, accounts the San Francisco Chronicle and other outlets say were backed by contemporaneous text messages and medical records — and she told friends soon after while not going to police because she feared not being believed. Swalwell denies the allegations as false and politically timed and has threatened legal action while his attorney sent a cease‑and‑desist; the report prompted broad political fallout, with Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, Rep. Jimmy Gomez, Sen. Ruben Gallego, the California Democratic establishment and the California Teachers Association withdrawing support and urging he leave the governor’s race.
📌 Key Facts
- A former Swalwell staffer, who was hired at age 21 in 2019, alleges two incidents: that she blacked out after drinks with Swalwell in 2019 and woke up naked in his hotel bed, and that after a 2024 charity gala she awoke bleeding and bruised after telling him "no" as he allegedly forced himself on her.
- The San Francisco Chronicle reviewed contemporaneous 2024 text messages in which the woman told a friend three days after the incident that she had been sexually assaulted, saying she blacked out, woke up during it and told him to stop; the Chronicle also interviewed the friend and an ex‑boyfriend who say she reported the 2024 assault shortly afterward and appeared disoriented.
- Medical records show the woman sought pregnancy and STD tests about a week after the alleged 2024 incident.
- Swalwell has denied the allegations as false and politically timed, stated he has never had a sexual relationship with a staff member or intern, and threatened legal action; his attorney has sent at least one cease‑and‑desist letter calling the claims baseless.
- Prominent Democrats and organizations promptly withdrew or suspended support and urged Swalwell to exit the California governor’s race, including Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Adam Schiff, Sen. Ruben Gallego, Rep. Jimmy Gomez, California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks, and the California Teachers Association; some Democratic rivals (e.g., Matt Mahan, Betty Yee, Tony Thurmond) urged him to drop out while others (e.g., Katie Porter, Tom Steyer) expressed support for the accuser but stopped short of calling for withdrawal.
- Immediate campaign fallout included the resignation of at least one strategic adviser, the cancelation of a planned Palm Springs campaign event, and reports that the campaign's endorsement page went to an error page after the Chronicle report and ensuing withdrawals.
- Separate reporting referenced by outlets includes accounts from three other women who allege various forms of sexual misconduct by Swalwell, including unsolicited inappropriate messages or photos allegedly sent via Snapchat.
📊 Relevant Data
Women filed 78.2% of the 27,291 sexual harassment charges received by the EEOC between FY 2018 and FY 2021.
Sexual Harassment in Our Nation's Workplaces — U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
69% of sexual assault victims are between the ages of 12-34, with 54% aged 18-34 and 15% aged 12-17.
Since 2017, 147 lawmakers in 44 states have been publicly accused of sexual harassment or misconduct.
147 lawmakers in 44 states accused of sexual harassment or misconduct since 2017 — PBS NewsHour
Compared with respondents aged 30 or older, those aged 18-29 were 105% more likely to report sexual harassment and 65% more likely to report sexual assault.
Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault in Early Adulthood — PMC (NCBI)
📰 Source Timeline (5)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
April 11, 2026
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.'