Rep. Eric Swalwell addresses his crowd of supporters at the Local Edition bar in San Francisco during the California Democratic Party’s 2026 State Convention on Feb. 20, 2026.
Christina House/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images
Editor’s note: This story contains descriptions of alleged sexual assault. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-4673 in the U.S.
LATEST, April 11, 1:30 p.m. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has launched an investigation into allegations that Rep. Eric Swalwell, a leading Democratic candidate for California governor, sexually assaulted a former staffer at a New York hotel, according to a statement released to multiple news outlets.
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The woman said in an interview with CNN that she woke up to Swalwell having sex with her in his New York hotel bed after a night of drinking in April 2024.
The former staffer is one of four women to come out with details of sexual assault and misconduct against Swalwell. He denied the allegations in a video posted to Instagram Friday, as well as via statements to multiple outlets.
April 10, 4:48 p.m. Bombshell reports of sexual assault allegations against Rep. Eric Swalwell Friday afternoon have prompted calls for the Bay Area Democrat to resign and drop out of the contentious 2026 governor’s race.
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The San Francisco Chronicle on Friday published a report detailing accusations of sexual assault from a woman who worked for nearly two years in Swalwell’s office. The Chronicle said it had conducted a series of interviews with the woman, in which she said that he had sexually assaulted her twice when she was too intoxicated to consent, including once while he was her boss. (The Chronicle and SFGATE are both owned by Hearst but have separate newsrooms.)
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The Chronicle reported the woman began working for Swalwell in 2019 during his brief presidential run and was hired that July to work in his Castro Valley district office after he suspended his campaign. The outlet described a pattern of conduct that began shortly after she was hired, including a late-summer encounter in which he allegedly asked the woman for oral sex during a district event. The first alleged assault happened that September, with the second happening in 2024 after she’d left his employ, the woman told the Chronicle.
The woman did not report the alleged assaults to law enforcement out of fear she would not be believed, she told the paper. Text messages she sent to a friend and that were viewed by the Chronicle showed her describing being “sexually assaulted” and saying she had “blacked out.” The paper also viewed medical records showing she sought pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease testing in the days following the alleged 2024 assault.
The outlet said it is not identifying the woman in accordance with its policy on alleged victims of sexual assault.
Multiple Democratic figures and political allies have publicly distanced themselves from Swalwell in the hours following the Chronicle’s report.
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Swalwell denied the allegations in a statement to the newspaper.
“These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor,” he wrote in a statement provided to the Chronicle. “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.”
An attorney for Swalwell sent a cease-and-desist letter on Thursday to the former staffer, the Chronicle reported.
Shortly after the Chronicle’s report was published, CNN reported that three additional women had come forward accusing the congressman of sexual misconduct. All three women said they connected with Swalwell online and at least two of the relationships began over the topic of politics. The allegations were similar to what the ex-staffer told the Chronicle, in that Swalwell allegedly sent unsolicited text messages and graphic images over Snapchat. One of the women who spoke to CNN is influencer Ally Sammarco, who said she first got into contact with Swalwell in 2021 over Twitter. The other two women remained unnamed. CNN also included its own interview with a fourth woman — the same ex-staffer who spoke with the Chronicle.
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Swalwell denied all allegations. An attorney for Swalwell sent a cease-and-desist letter on Thursday to two of those women, CNN reported.
Swalwell is one of eight Democrats vying to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom this year. Recent polls show Republican Steve Hilton consistently leading the pack, with Swalwell roughly neck and neck with two Democratic rivals, former Rep. Katie Porter and billionaire former presidential candidate Tom Steyer, for second place. The primary election is scheduled to be held on June 2.
Allegations against Swalwell began surfacing around late March and early April, when conservative website the Daily Caller published a report citing claims from Gen-Z for Change Executive Director Cheyenne Hunt, a lawyer and former congressional candidate. In the report, Hunt said she’d been working with many women who were planning to come forward to share their experiences of alleged sexual harassment and abuse by the congressman.
Hunt did not identify the women or provide details about their allegations, saying some remained silent out of fear of professional consequences or because they believed nondisclosure agreements prevented them from speaking publicly.
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“I got involved because the first victim who approached me is a close friend, but when I saw that there were others who’s experiences fit the same pattern of manipulation and abuse of power, I knew I couldn’t stay silent,” Hunt wrote on X on April 5.
“Targeting employees, interns, and fans,” Hunt added in another post, alleging a broader pattern of behavior. “Acting as a mentor just to exploit that power. DMs and Snapchat messages. Allegations ranging from uncomfortable comments to potentially criminal conduct.”
Late Thursday, Hunt shared a copy of the cease-and-desist letter that Swalwell’s attorney Elias Dabaie sent the woman who spoke with the Chronicle. In the letter, the congressman’s attorney accused the woman of making “false statements accusing Mr. Swalwell of sexual assault and nonconsensual sexual encounters,” and warning of potential legal action if she did not retract her claims.
“The timing and pattern of your own conduct speak for themselves and demonstrate the falsity of your claims,” Dabaie added in the letter. “It also demonstrates that you are acting with actual malice or reckless disregard for the truth — and therefore you are subject to liability for defamation per se under governing law.”
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Gerald Singleton, the attorney representing the woman, told the Chronicle that his client’s statements are “100% factually accurate, and she will not be withdrawing them.”
The allegations prompted swift fallout, with Jeremy B. White of Politico writing on X that “multiple” staffers had left Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign after the Chronicle’s report became public.
Several of Swalwell’s rival candidates have also spoken out.
“Speaking out is never easy, and her account must be taken seriously,” Steyer said, commending the former staffer for speaking out. “At a moment like this, we must make sure that women are heard, and justice is pursued.”
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Porter called the allegations “horrifying,” adding: “We believe you and we stand with you.”
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, two other Democrats in the race, both called on Swalwell to drop out.
This breaking news story has been updated.
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