Swalwell says President Trump and FBI are trying to ‘interfere with California elections’
Swalwell said President Trump and the FBI could release files from a private investigation to interfere in California’s gubernatorial election.
- Congressman Eric Swalwell is facing allegations of sexual assault and abuse from multiple women.
- Several prominent Democrats, including Nancy Pelosi and Hakeem Jeffries, have urged Swalwell to withdraw from the California gubernatorial race.
- Mr. Swalwell denied the allegations and said he intended to clarify the facts and defend himself.
- Several politicians and organizations publicly withdrew their support for Swalwell’s campaign.
Politicians from several countries are withdrawing their support for U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell and urging him to withdraw from the California gubernatorial race after two news organizations published claims by former employees that he was sexually assaulted on the job.
In a statement, three Democratic House leaders, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark and Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, called on Swalwell to withdraw his candidacy for Democratic governor. They are also calling for an investigation into claims made by a former staff member and three other women.
“Following the deeply disturbing sexual assault allegations against Congressman Eric Swalwell, we call for a swift investigation into these incidents and for the congressman to immediately cease his campaign to become California’s next governor,” the Democratic Party said. “This is unacceptable to anyone, certainly not an elected official, and must be taken seriously.”
The San Francisco Chronicle and CNN reported on the sexual assault claims, and CNN also reported on the claims of three other women. The women allege that Swalwell, the Democratic front-runner in polls, has been sexually inappropriate and sent them unsolicited explicit messages and nude photos.
Mr. Swalwell denied the allegations. He said in a statement that the race will be held ahead of this weekend’s California Republican Party convention in San Diego, and that the two Republican candidates will be the overall front-runners in the June primary. The top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, will advance to the general election in November.
“These claims are false and were made on the eve of an election against the leading candidate for governor,” Swalwell said in a statement. “I have served the public for nearly 20 years as a prosecutor and lawmaker and have always protected women. I will protect myself with the facts and take legal action if necessary. My focus in the coming days, along with my wife and children, is to protect our decades of service from these lies.”
The San Francisco Chronicle also reported that Swalwell’s attorney, Elias Davai, sent a letter of suspension to the former employee. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the letter demands that he stop making “false statements accusing Mr. Swalwell of sexual assault and nonconsensual sexual touching,” and threatens to sue if he does not retract his statements.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, said in a statement that she advised Mr. Swalwell to withdraw from running for governor to replace Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose term ends in 2027.
“The young women who made serious allegations against Congressman Swalwell deserve to be respected and heard. This extremely sensitive matter must be properly investigated with full transparency and accountability,” Pelosi said. “As I discussed with Congressman Swalwell, it’s clear that this is best done outside of the gubernatorial race.”
Mr. Swalwell, 45, was first elected to Congress in 2012, representing a Northern California district outside Oakland, where he was Alameda County’s prosecutor. Swalwell was also a strong candidate in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, but subsequently dropped out and endorsed the eventual winner, Joe Biden.
Calls for Swalwell to resign came soon after the assault allegations.
Despite Swalwell’s denials, legions of supporters quickly took to social media to publicly withdraw their support for Swalwell and demand that he withdraw from the California gubernatorial race.
Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California, one of two U.S. senators supporting Swalwell, said he was “deeply concerned” after reading the allegations.
“This woman bravely came forward and we should take her story seriously,” Schiff wrote in a post on X. “I immediately withdraw my support. I believe she should withdraw from the race.”
California Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., who co-chaired Swalwell’s campaign, said the allegations were “the ugliest and most serious accusation imaginable” and that Swalwell would immediately step down from his role within the campaign.
“I cannot in good conscience continue to have any role in this campaign,” the Los Angeles congressman wrote on his social media platforms. “Congressmen should withdraw from the campaign now so that they can fulfill their full responsibilities without arousing suspicion, distraction or delay.”
Another U.S. senator supporting Mr. Swalwell, Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), said Mr. Swalwell had withdrawn his support. Gallego wrote on social media that women who come forward to testify “deserve to be heard respectfully, not questioned or dismissed.”
“I regret defending him on social media before I had all the information. I’m just as shocked and upset by what happened,” Gallego said.
Governor Swalwell’s rivals express shock over allegations
Several of Mr. Swalwell’s rivals in the gubernatorial race also called on Mr. Swalwell to suspend his campaign.
Former California Congresswoman Katie Porter, who is running to become California’s first female governor, called the allegations against Swalwell “horrifying” and expressed solidarity with the women who have come forward to share their stories.
“We believe in you and we support you,” Porter wrote about X.
The Democratic governor’s opponent, Betty Yee, called the allegations “disgusting” on social media. Yee said Swalwell should withdraw from the gubernatorial race and immediately resign from the Legislature. “Let the women speak,” Ms. Yi said.
Gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer praised the bravery of Swalwell’s former staffers in coming forward and expressed support for other alleged victims of posts about X.
“Speaking out is never easy, and her account should be taken seriously,” Steyer wrote. “It is at times like these that we must ensure that women’s voices are heard and justice is pursued.”
Steve Hilton, one of the two Republicans leading the gubernatorial race, mocked Swalwell in a series of posts on X, saying he believed Swalwell’s misconduct allegations were a reflection of the California Democratic Party, which he called “a corrupt, disgraceful disgrace.”
“Despite endless lectures on gender equality and its ‘values,’ it is clear that today’s California Democratic Party cares about nothing but its own power,” said Hilton, who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump. “So we will defeat it in November.”
