Swalwell Denies Assault as Dems Withdraw Support
Eric Swalwell posted a blunt video response after a San Francisco Chronicle story accused him of sexual assault. The coverage set off resignations, lost endorsements, and a nasty political scramble.
The Chronicle reported that a woman who worked in Swalwell’s office accused him of assaulting her twice while she was intoxicated. The paper wrote: “A woman who worked for nearly two years for Rep. Eric Swalwell, a leading candidate for California governor, said she had sexual encounters with him while he was her boss and alleged he twice sexually assaulted her when she was too intoxicated to consent,”
The story has bitten hard. Staffers left his campaign. Prominent Democrats pulled support. Adam Schiff withdrew his endorsement and called on him to drop out. Other leaders publicly urged Swalwell to step aside.
Swalwell’s team fired back quickly. Lawyers sent a cease-and-desist to the woman and the campaign issued a written denial. In a video posted to social media, Swalwell said plainly: “These allegations of sexual assault are flat false. They’re absolutely false,”
He kept pushing that line. “They did not happen. They have never happened and I will fight them with everything that I have.” He also said the timing looked political: “They also come on the eve of an election where I have been the front-runner candidate for the governor in California.”
That denial sits next to reports that he acknowledged extramarital relationships and apologized to his wife. The mix of personal admissions and categorical denials has left allies and voters scrambling for answers.
Expect more fallout. This story dropped just as primary season ramps up. Candidates and party leaders will weigh pressure from voters, the media, and donors. For Swalwell, the next steps are urgent: defend his reputation, keep support, or bow out.
For now, Swalwell said he would spend the weekend with friends and family. The accusations, the denials, and the political damage are likely to keep this story alive for days.