Sacramento, California– Republic of California eric Swalwell, The Democratic gubernatorial candidate has denied allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman twice, including when she worked for him.
San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday A woman said Swalwell sexually assaulted her in 2019 and 2024. The newspaper reviewed text messages about the alleged assault in 2024 and spoke to the people to whom they told about it. She told the newspaper that she did not go to the police because she was afraid that no one would believe her.
The newspaper did not mention the woman’s name, and the Associated Press was unable 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 event, the newspaper reported. In both cases, she said she was too drunk to consent to sex.
Swalwell denied the woman’s account and suggested they were part of an operation The attack is due to the momentum of his campaign.
“These allegations are false and come on the eve of the 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 member of Congress and have always protected women. I will defend myself with the facts and file a lawsuit when necessary. My focus in the days ahead 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. Lawyer Elias Debaei confirmed that he had sent at least one message and described the allegations as “baseless.”
The allegations emerged at a critical stage of The campaign is wide open To lead the most populous state in the country. Mail-in ballots are being sent to voters less than a month before the June 2 primary.
On Friday afternoon, the California Teachers Association said it had suspended its support. Democratic United States Senator Adam Schiff He withdrew his endorsement, and a colleague in Congress who had supported Swalwell urged him to withdraw from the race. Many of Swalwell’s rivals also encouraged him to exit the race.
Unconfirmed and unspecified rumors that Swalwell behaved inappropriately with female employees have circulated on social media for weeks, but the Chronicle story is the first reported account of someone making a direct accusation. At a campaign event Tuesday in Sacramento, he told reporters that he had never had a sexual relationship with any employee or intern.
Swalwell earlier this week announced a series of campaign events he planned across the state, but canceled the event scheduled for Thursday in Palm Springs.
Swalwell is among Many prominent Democrats In the crowded field to replace outgoing Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, he immediately came under pressure from several Democratic rivals — former state Comptroller 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 buzz could prove costly for Swalwell if his fundraising dries up, stifling his ability to run campaign ads, or if unions and other groups that have backed his campaign begin to back away from their decisions.
Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez, who endorsed and helped run Swalwell’s campaign, said in a social media post that he was ending his role in the campaign effective immediately.
“The congressman must leave the race now so that there can be full accountability without doubt, distraction or delay,” Gomez said.
Swalwell, originally from Iowa, was elected in 2012 and represents a House district east of San Francisco. Fire Running for president in April 2019, but closed it a few months later after failing to attract voters. He is perhaps best known nationally as House manager under President Donald Trump 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.