California Rep. Swalwell denies assault allegations as rivals urge him to exit governor’s race

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Rep. Eric Swalwell, a Democrat running for governor, has denied allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman twice, including when she worked for him.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday that a woman said Swalwell sexually assaulted her in 2019 and 2024. The newspaper reviewed text messages about the alleged 2024 assault and spoke to people whom she had told about it. She told the newspaper she did not go to police because she was afraid she would not be believed.

The paper didn’t name the woman, and The Associated Press has not been able to independently verify her account and identity. Her lawyer declined to comment.

The woman worked for Swalwell in 2019 when the first alleged assault occurred, and the 2024 assault allegedly occurred after a charity gala, the newspaper reported. She said in both cases she was too intoxicated to consent to sex.

Swalwell denied the woman’s account and suggested they were part of an attack due to his campaign’s momentum.

“These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the front-runner for governor,” Swalwell said in a statement. “For nearly 20 years, I have served the public — as a prosecutor and a congressman and have always protected women. I will defend myself with the facts and where necessary bring legal action. My focus in the coming days is to be with my wife and children and defend our decades of service against these lies.”

The woman received a cease-and-desist letter from Swalwell’s attorney, the Chronicle reported. The attorney, Elias Debaie, confirmed he sent out at least one letter and called the allegations “baseless.”

The allegations surfaced at a critical stage of the wide-open campaign to lead the nation’s most populous state. Mail ballots go out to voters in less than a month in advance of a June 2 primary election.

On Friday afternoon, the California Teachers Association said it’s suspending its support. Democratic U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff withdrew his endorsement, and a fellow congressman who backed Swalwell urged him to drop out of the race. Several of Swalwell’s competitors also encouraged him to exit the race.

Uncorroborated and nonspecific rumors that Swalwell behaved inappropriately with female staffers have circulated on social media for weeks, but the Chronicle’s story is the first reported account of someone making a direct accusation. At a Tuesday campaign event in Sacramento, he told reporters he’s never had a sexual relationship with a staff member or intern.

Swalwell earlier this week announced a series of campaign functions he’s planned around the state, but canceled the scheduled event Thursday in Palm Springs.

Swalwell is among several leading Democrats in the crowded field to replace outgoing Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, and he immediately came under pressure from several Democratic rivals — former state controller Betty Yee, state schools superintendent Tony Thurmond and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan — to withdraw from the race. Two of Swalwell’s top rivals — former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter and billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer — expressed support for the woman who shared her account but stopped short of calling on Swalwell to end his campaign.

The emerging uproar could prove costly for Swalwell if his fundraising dries up, strangling his ability to run campaign ads, or if unions and other groups that endorsed his campaign begin to retract their decisions.

Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez, who endorsed and helped run Swalwell’s campaign, said in a social media post that he’s immediately ending his role in the campaign.

“The congressman should leave the race now so there can be full accountability without doubt, distraction, or delay,” Gomez said.

Swalwell, who is originally from Iowa, was elected in 2012 and represents a House district east of San Francisco. He launched a presidential run in April 2019 but shuttered it a few months later after failing to catch on with voters. He is perhaps best known nationally as a House manager in President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial during his first term in early 2021.

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Associated Press writer Michael R. Blood in Los Angeles contributed to this report.