Eric Swalwell has rejected allegations of sexual assault made by a former congressional staffer, describing the claims as “absolutely false” while facing growing political pressure during California’s gubernatorial race.
Truth Live News International gathered that Swalwell, a Democrat and one of the prominent contenders in the upcoming election, issued a public statement on Friday denying the accusations and pledging to contest them.
“These allegations of sexual assault are flat false. They are absolutely false. They did not happen. They have never happened,” he said, adding that he would fight the claims “with everything that I have.”
The allegations were first reported by a media outlet, which cited a former staffer accusing Swalwell of two nonconsensual encounters, one in 2019 during her employment and another in 2024 after she had left his office. In a separate interview, the woman alleged that one of the incidents amounted to rape, an accusation Swalwell has firmly denied.
While rejecting the claims, Swalwell acknowledged past personal shortcomings, stating he had made “mistakes in judgment” and offering an apology to his wife, though he did not link those remarks directly to the allegations.
The controversy has prompted swift reactions within his party. Hakeem Jeffries called for an investigation into the matter, while Adam Schiff withdrew his endorsement and urged Swalwell to end his campaign. The California Teachers Association also suspended its support.
Swalwell has been widely viewed as a leading candidate in California’s nonpartisan primary system, where the top two finishers regardless of party affiliation, advance to the general election scheduled for November.
The allegations and political fallout have introduced significant uncertainty into a race that was previously seen as competitive but stable.
