Rep. Eric Swalwell Suspends California Governor Campaign in the Wake of Sexual Assault Allegations

Rep. Eric Swalwell is officially out of the California governor’s race after his campaign collapsed in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations.

“I am suspending my campaign for Governor,” the Democratic congressman, 45, wrote in an X post on Sunday, April 12. “To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for the mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past.”

“I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s,” he added.

The decision came after The San Francisco Chronicle published an article on Friday, April 10 in which a woman claimed Swalwell sexually assaulted her while she was too intoxicated to give consent. According to the report, the woman joined Swalwell’s staff at age 21 in 2019. She said he immediately began sending her images of his genitals on Snapchat and pursuing her despite being 17 years her senior and married. While they engaged in a consensual sexual act once, she says he had sex with her after she got too drunk to consent and tried to do the same thing five years later.

That same day, CNN reported on three other women who are accusing Swalwell of sexual misconduct.

Swalwell, meanwhile, has repeatedly denied the first woman’s account of the situation, telling the Chronicle and CNN: “These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor. For nearly 20 years, I have served the public — as a prosecutor and a congressman and have always protected women. I will defend myself with the facts and where necessary bring legal action. My focus in the coming days is to be with my wife and children and defend our decades of service against these lies.”

CNN reported that Swalwell’s attorney also sent two of his accusers cease-and-desist letters ordering them to retract their claims.

While Swalwell has officially ended his campaign for governor, he has not mentioned whether or not he’ll step down from his position on Capitol Hill. Since the allegations against him came to light, prominent Democrats like Nancy Pelosi and Hakeem Jeffries have called for him to resign, according to CNBC.