Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell introduced he’s suspending his California governor’s race marketing campaign after accusations made by a former staffer to the San Francisco Chronicle that he sexually assaulted her, which the congressman has denied.
It comes amid a rising push from his celebration to not solely get out of the race, however to resign from Congress.
“I’m suspending my marketing campaign for Governor. To my household, workers, associates, and supporters, I’m deeply sorry for errors in judgment I’ve made in my previous,” Swalwell wrote in a publish to X Sunday night time.
“I’ll struggle the intense, false allegations which were made — however that’s my struggle, not a marketing campaign’s,” he wrote.
California gubernatorial candidate Rep. Eric Swalwell listens to a query from the viewers throughout a city corridor assembly in Sacramento, Calif., April 7, 2026.
Wealthy Pedroncelli/AP
The San Francisco Chronicle revealed the account of a lady, who it didn’t establish, who says she was employed on the age of 21 to work as an intern in Swalwell’s district workplace.
She claims Swalwell started pursuing her and despatched her a nude picture. In 2019, she went out for drinks with Swalwell and wakened bare the subsequent morning in Swalwell’s lodge mattress and “felt the impact of vaginal intercourse,” in response to the article.
The lady alleges that 5 years later at a gala in New York, when she was not working for him, Swalwell pursued her whereas she was inebriated and compelled himself on her, in response to the San Francisco Chronicle.
ABC Information has not independently verified these claims.
In a video posted to social media late Friday night, Swalwell referred to as the allegations “flat false. They’re completely false.”
“They didn’t occur. They’ve by no means occurred, and I’ll struggle them with all the pieces that I’ve,” he mentioned.
Swalwell didn’t deal with the allegations intimately within the video assertion.
Fellow Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, additionally from California, referred to as the allegations in opposition to Swalwell “sick and disgusting.”
Rep. Eugene Vindman, D-Va., instructed CNN’s “State of the Union,” “The accusations are completely heinous, and his admissions betraying his household are deplorable. So Eric Swalwell must resign. He must drop out of the race.”
Vindman emphasised the necessity to maintain leaders accountable, no matter celebration or stature.
“And we have now grown far too accustomed to having our senior leaders, our elected officers, uh, fall far beneath what we count on their habits to be morally, ethically … And Consultant Swalwell must go,” Vindman mentioned.
The highest three Home Democrats, together with Chief Hakeem Jeffries, have referred to as on Swalwell to finish his bid for governor.
“Following the extremely disturbing sexual assault accusations in opposition to Congressman Eric Swalwell, we name for a swift investigation into these incidents and for the Congressman to instantly finish his marketing campaign to be California’s subsequent Governor,” Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar mentioned in a joint assertion launched Friday.
Pressed Sunday on whether or not Swalwell ought to resign, Jeffries instructed CNN’s Jeff Zeleny, “Our assertion for the second speaks for itself. We’ll reconvene in Washington early subsequent week and we’ll have extra to say.”
In his Friday video, Swalwell mentioned the allegations “come on the eve of an election the place I’ve been the frontrunner candidate” and cited his profession as a public servant and prosecutor who went to courtroom for sexual assault victims, he mentioned.
“I don’t counsel to you in any means that I’m excellent or that I’m a saint,” he mentioned. “I’ve actually made errors in judgment in my previous. However these errors are between me and my spouse and to her I apologize deeply for placing her on this place.”
Fellow Democrats began calling for Swalwell to drop his gubernatorial marketing campaign shortly after information of the allegations broke.
In a press release, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi mentioned: “This extraordinarily delicate matter have to be appropriately investigated with full transparency and accountability. As I mentioned with Congressman Swalwell, it’s clear that’s greatest completed exterior of a gubernatorial marketing campaign.”
Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., who chaired Swalwell’s marketing campaign for governor, introduced that he was stepping down from the marketing campaign and referred to the accusations as “the ugliest and most critical accusations conceivable.”
“I can not in good conscience stay in any function with this marketing campaign, and I’m stepping down from it efficient instantly,” Gomez mentioned. “The congressman ought to depart the race now so there will be full accountability no doubt, distraction, or delay.”
Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, who had in current days defended Swalwell from on-line rumors of misconduct, posted Friday that he was withdrawing his endorsement and mentioned that he “remorse[s] having come to his protection on social media.”
Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., additionally mentioned he’s pulling his endorsement “instantly” and referred to as on Swalwell to withdraw.
Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida mentioned Saturday that she plans to pressure a vote subsequent week to expel Swalwell if he doesn’t resign.
“Eric has an choice. I’m going to carry this vote subsequent week. If Democrats need to defend such a rubbish, I wouldn’t suggest it, however they’ll placed on the board for that. I’m uninterested in this,” Luna said on Fox Information.
Swalwell added that he’s keen to pursue authorized motion to fight the accusations.
“I’ll defend myself with the details and the place needed carry authorized motion. My focus within the coming days is to be with my spouse and youngsters and defend our many years of service in opposition to these lies,” Swalwell mentioned.
Within the wake of the Chronicle’s reporting, a number of of Swalwell’s Democratic opponents within the governor’s race, together with San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, and former State Controller Betty Yee have additionally referred to as on Swalwell to drop out of the race.
California gubernatorial candidate, Rep. Eric Swalwell seems at a city corridor assembly in Sacramento, Calif., April 7, 2026.
Wealthy Pedroncelli/AP
The 2 frontrunners within the race, billionaire businessman Tom Steyer and former Congresswoman Katie Porter, expressed help for the alleged sufferer however stopped wanting calling on Swalwell to drop out of the race.
Earlier this week, Swalwell’s marketing campaign instructed ABC Information that Swalwell has not obtained any complaints and has not requested anybody to signal non-disclosure agreements.
“This false, outrageous rumor is being unfold 27 days earlier than an election begins by flailing opponents who’ve sadly teamed up with MAGA conspiracy theorists as a result of they know Eric Swalwell is the frontrunner on this race,” marketing campaign spokesperson Micah Beasley mentioned in a press release offered to ABC Information on Tuesday.
“In 13 years, nobody in Eric Swalwell’s Congressional workplace has ever been requested to signal an NDA. Ever,” Beasley mentioned. “In 13 years, not a single ethics criticism by any workers in his workplace or every other workplace has ever been lodged. Ever.”
The Manhattan District Lawyer’s Workplace is investigating allegations in opposition to Swalwell, a supply acquainted with the investigation mentioned Saturday.
“We urge survivors and anybody with data of those allegations to contact our Particular Victims Division at 212-335-9373,” the Manhattan DA’s workplace mentioned. “Our specifically educated prosecutors, investigators, and counselors are well-equipped that will help you in a trauma-informed, survivor-centered method.”
Swalwell’s marketing campaign has not responded to a request for remark. An lawyer representing Swalwell mentioned “no remark” on Saturday.
Home ethics guidelines prohibit sexual relationships between members and interns or staffers however the Home can not examine an incident occurring greater than three phrases of Congress in the past.
-ABC Information’ Aaron Katersky, Victoria Arancio and Oren Oppenheim contributed to this report.
