Rep. Swalwell faces calls for resignation over sexual assault allegations
California gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell denies sexual assault allegations amid rising demands for him to quit after the San Francisco Chronicle reported that a former staffer alleged he sexually assaulted her.
Objective Facts
A woman who worked for Swalwell accused him of assaulting her in 2019 while he was her boss, and again in 2024 after she no longer worked for him, according to reports by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN. According to the Chronicle's report, the accuser, who is 17 years younger than Swalwell, said he first assaulted her in September 2019 after inviting her out for drinks, and she became severely intoxicated and woke up naked in his hotel bed, feeling the effects of vaginal intercourse. Swalwell denied the allegations. At least four of his senior campaign staffers, including a top consultant who helped him court labor support, abruptly resigned before the news report, with U.S. Rep. Jimmy Gomez, a Los Angeles Democrat who chaired Swalwell's campaign, resigning from the role Friday and calling on Swalwell to drop out. Swalwell had racked up endorsements across the Democratic establishment, but a handful of the state's most powerful labor unions and public officials who backed him had dropped their support by Friday afternoon, with some including U.S. Sens. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, also calling for him to exit the race.
Left-Leaning Perspective
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar issued a joint statement calling the allegations incredibly disturbing and demanding a swift investigation, while commending the courageous women for sharing their experiences and ensuring that those who come forward with allegations of sexual assault and harassment are heard and respected. Mayor Karen Bass posted on X that Swalwell should end his campaign and resign from Congress immediately because his conduct is incompatible with elected office. Nearly all the other Democratic candidates called for him to immediately drop out, including billionaire and climate advocate Tom Steyer, former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former Controller Betty Yee, who called the allegations 'sickening.' The woman received a cease-and-desist letter from Swalwell's attorney, and attorney Elias Debaie confirmed he sent out at least one letter and called the allegations 'baseless.' Democrat lawyer and activist Cheyanne Hunt, who has led the effort to expose Swalwell's alleged abusive behavior, said Swalwell had a habit of sleeping with many of his interns and making them sign NDAs so they don't speak out, with alleged evidence of the inappropriate behavior including late night direct messages and Snapchat messages that range 'from uncomfortable comments to potentially criminal conduct.' According to Hunt, Swalwell's legal team sent cease and desist threats 'in the dead of night' in an 'attempt to delay the truth,' and the activist stated that the cease and desists are a 'disgusting abuse of power against brave women who are courageously working together to share their stories.' House Democratic leaders called for accountability but stopped short of urging him to resign from Congress, meaning some Democratic voices emphasized the distinction between dropping out of the gubernatorial race and leaving his congressional seat. Former Representative Katie Porter and billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer expressed support for the alleged victim but stopped short of calling on Swalwell to end his campaign.
Right-Leaning Perspective
Conservative commentator Steve Hilton, a leading Republican in the race, called for Swalwell to drop out of the race. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said Swalwell 'has no business being in the position he's in,' while Hilton questioned Swalwell's decision to run, saying the situation raises concerns for voters. Rep. Lauren Boebert said she will introduce a privileged resolution on the House floor to censure Swalwell for sexually harassing the women who work in his office, calling this behavior disgusting and unbecoming of a Member of Congress, and referring to him as a 'disgusting pervert.' Republican National Committee spokesman Nick Poche said 'Eric Swalwell is and always has been a disgusting pig who needs to resign from Congress and drop out of the governor's race in disgrace.' Steve Hilton, the leading Republican candidate for governor in California, hit Swalwell where it hurt in a post on X, using Swalwell's own words against him. The right-leaning commentary emphasized the severity of the allegations and framed them as disqualifying for public office, while some Republicans seized on the opportunity to gain ground in a fractured Democratic field. Experts suggest that candidates Katie Porter and Tom Steyer stand to gain most directly from any collapse in Swalwell's support — through a redistribution of votes, labor endorsements, and donor money — while Republicans, particularly Steve Hilton, may benefit from a Democratic field thrown into disarray at a critical moment in the campaign. The right-leaning framing largely avoided extended discussion of the substantive allegations themselves, instead focusing on the political implications and disqualification argument.
Deep Dive
According to reports by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN, a woman who worked for Swalwell accused him of assaulting her in 2019 while he was her boss, and again in 2024 after she no longer worked for him. According to the Chronicle's report, the accuser, who is 17 years younger than Swalwell, said he first assaulted her in September 2019 after inviting her out for drinks. She said she became severely intoxicated and woke up naked in his hotel bed, feeling the effects of vaginal intercourse. In April 2024, the woman said, Swalwell allegedly forced himself onto her after meeting for drinks following a charity gala honoring Swalwell. Swalwell's attorney sent cease-and-desist letters to two of the women CNN spoke with on Thursday, a day after CNN first reached out to his campaign to request comment. The letters called the women's accounts 'false,' ordered them to retract their statements and warned of potential legal action if they continue speaking out. Democratic critics focused on the pattern of allegations and the power dynamics involved—a senior official pursuing younger staff members—while Republican critics emphasized the disqualification and seized on what they framed as Democratic inconsistency given the party's stance on sexual harassment. Earlier this week, Swalwell's campaign told ABC News that Swalwell has not received any complaints and has not asked anyone to sign non-disclosure agreements, with campaign spokesperson Micah Beasley stating 'This false, outrageous rumor is being spread 27 days before an election begins by flailing opponents who have sadly teamed up with MAGA conspiracy theorists because they know Eric Swalwell is the frontrunner in this race.' This framing—that accusations are politically timed and coordinated—received less traction among mainstream Democratic voices, who focused instead on the credibility of the accusers and the corroborating evidence. The turmoil threatened to reorder California's top-two primary, where a splintered Democratic field has heightened the chances of two Republicans advancing if Swalwell's support collapses and fails to consolidate behind another Democrat. Political experts believe the allegations have dramatically changed the dynamics of the governor's race. With Swalwell's campaign in turmoil, other candidates are poised to capitalize. Billionaire Tom Steyer, who has seen a rise in support, and Congresswoman Katie Porter, both of whom were already strong contenders, are expected to gain ground. The key unresolved question is whether Swalwell will remain in the race despite near-universal pressure from his own party—his silence on this question as of Friday evening left the political outcome genuinely uncertain.