Democratic congressman Eric Swalwell has suspended his campaign for governor of California following a series of sexual assault and misconduct allegations. The allegations were made by a former staff member and at least three other women, according to reports from the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN.
The former staff member accused Swalwell of sexually assaulting her twice when she was too inebriated to consent. Three other women said Swalwell had sent them unsolicited nude photographs or explicit messages. Swalwell has denied the claims, calling them “flat false” and part of a concerted effort to derail his campaign.
In a statement, Swalwell said he would fight the “serious, false allegations” but acknowledged mistakes in judgment from his past. Prominent supporters, including Hakeem Jeffries and Nancy Pelosi, called on him to withdraw, and his campaign co-chairs stepped down. The Manhattan district attorney’s office and the Department of Homeland Security have opened investigations into separate allegations.
Swalwell, who represented northern California in Congress, rose to prominence as a critic of Donald Trump and served as an impeachment manager during Trump’s second trial. His departure upends the race to replace Governor Gavin Newsom, leaving Democrats concerned about the possibility of two Republicans advancing to the general election.
