Democratic congressman Eric Swalwell has suspended his campaign for governor of California following a series of sexual assault and misconduct allegations. The allegations, reported by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN, include claims from a former staff member who said Swalwell sexually assaulted her twice when she was too inebriated to consent, and from three other women who accused him of sending unsolicited nude photographs or explicit messages.
In a statement, Swalwell denied the allegations, calling them “flat false” and part of an effort to derail his campaign. He apologised for “mistakes in judgment” but said he would fight the accusations. The fallout was swift: prominent supporters including Hakeem Jeffries, Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, and Alex Padilla called on him to withdraw, and his campaign co-chairs stepped down.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office has opened a criminal investigation into a sexual assault allegation against Swalwell, and the Department of Homeland Security is investigating claims he hired a Brazilian national as a nanny without lawful work authorisation. Members of Congress from both parties have discussed the possibility of expelling Swalwell.
Swalwell, 45, represented northern California in the House for seven terms and gained national prominence as an opponent of Donald Trump. He briefly ran for president in 2020 and served as an impeachment manager during Trump’s second impeachment trial. His departure from the gubernatorial race reshuffles a Democratic field that had yet to produce a clear frontrunner.
