The Manhattan District Attorney is investigating a sexual assault claim against California gubernatorial candidate Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., after reports a former staffer accused him of sexually assaulting her in a New York City hotel in 2024, which Swalwell has denied.
Swalwell denied a former staffer's allegation that he sexually assaulted her in 2024. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
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The Manhattan District Attorney’s office urged “survivors and anyone with knowledge of these allegations” to contact its special victims division, saying its “specially trained prosecutors, investigators and counselors are well-equipped to help you in a trauma-informed, survivor-centered manner.”
Reports in CNN and the San Francisco Chronicle published Friday both detail an alleged assault that occurred in 2024 in New York City, in which a former staffer accused Swalwell of sexually assaulting her after a night of drinks following a gala they attended in which she was too intoxicated to consent.
“I was pushing him off of me, saying no,” the woman told CNN, who alleged he “didn’t stop.”
CNN’s article included accounts from four women who accused Swalwell of sexual assault or misconduct, with some alleging he sent them unsolicited nude images and explicit messages.
Swalwell denied the accounts in a video posted to social media Friday night, saying, “These allegations of sexual assault are flat false. They are absolutely false,” adding he will “fight them with everything that I have” while suggesting the allegations were politically motivated.
The allegations have upended Swalwell’s bid to replace Gavin Newsom as the governor of California as calls for him to suspend his campaign grow, with the primary election looming on June 2.
“These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the front-runner for governor,” Swalwell said in his video Friday, vowing to “defend myself with the facts and where necessary bring legal action.” Elias Dabaie, Swalwell’s lawyer, said in a statement to the New York Times the allegations appear to be a “coordinated effort to undermine his candidacy,” questioning why they would “suddenly arise on the eve of an election against the front-runner.” Swalwell’s lawyers sent cease-and-desist letters to the women who made allegations against him on Thursday, after CNN approached his campaign with questions about the women’s accounts, the Times reported.
According to CNN’s report, a former staffer alleged Swalwell had nonconsensual sexual contact with her twice, once in 2019 and again in 2024. In the first incident, she alleged she woke up naked with him in a hotel room after a night of drinking and had no memory of what happened, but could physically feel they had sexual contact. She accused him of sexually assaulting her again in 2024 at the New York City hotel. Three other women accused Swalwell of other instances of sexual misconduct, including sending nude images and explicit messages. One accused Swalwell of kissing her and touching her leg without her consent, later ending up inside his hotel room, after a night of drinking. Ally Sammarco, a social media creator, alleged she connected with Swalwell over social media in 2021, after which he began sending her increasingly personal messages and unsolicited nude images.
Many prominent Democrats have reneged on their endorsements of Swalwell’s California governor campaign, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who urged him to end his candidacy. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries also called on Swalwell to suspend his campaign. California Sen. Adam Schiff also withdrew his endorsement, as did Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego, a close friend of Swalwell’s. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said Saturday she would move to expel Swalwell from the House of Representatives, which requires a two-thirds majority vote.
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