Eric Swalwell Suspends California Governor Campaign Amid Sexual Assault Allegations
Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell has suspended his campaign for California governor following allegations of sexual assault, which he denies.
Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell has suspended his campaign for California governor following allegations of sexual assault.
In a social media post on Sunday, Swalwell stated, "I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made—but that's my fight, not a campaign's."
The allegations, first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN, involve claims from a former staffer who accused Swalwell of two non-consensual sexual encounters, one in 2019 and another in 2024.
Swalwell has denied the accusations, calling them "absolutely false" and vowing to contest them.
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office has initiated an investigation into the 2024 incident.
Following the allegations, several Democratic colleagues, including Reps. Pramila Jayapal, Ro Khanna, and Jared Huffman, have called for Swalwell's resignation from Congress.
Additionally, more than 50 of Swalwell's former staffers have signed an open letter urging him to resign.
Swalwell's suspension from the gubernatorial race has significantly altered the landscape of the contest, which now features prominent candidates such as Democrats Katie Porter and Tom Steyer, and Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco.