DUBLIN, CA \u2014 Rep. Eric Swalwell, the Democratic frontrunner in the Gubernatorial race, is under investigation by the Manhattan district attorney\u2019s office over allegations he sexually assaulted a young staffer in New York City, according to reports. <\/p>\n
Swalwell, who lost his most prominent supporters Friday in the wake of The San Francisco Chronicle’s <\/a>explosive report on the allegations, has denied the accusations.<\/p>\n His lawyer sent a cease-and-desist letter to the staffer threatening to sue, according to reports in The San Francisco Chronicle and Los Angeles Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n Find out what’s happening in Dublinfor free with the latest updates from Patch.<\/p>\n The staffer spoke on-camera with CNN<\/a> with her face obscured and accused Swalwell of raping her in New York. That incident happened in 2024, the Chronicle report said. The first incident happened in California in 2019, when she worked for Swalwell, and she was intoxicated and unable to consent, the Chronicle reported. <\/p>\n Three other women<\/a> have accused Swalwell of sending them inappropriate sexual messages, including naked images, and unwanted touching, CNN reported. <\/p>\n Find out what’s happening in Dublinfor free with the latest updates from Patch.<\/p>\n The Manhattan district attorney\u2019s office urged anyone with knowledge of the allegations to contact its special victims division.<\/p>\n \u201cOur specially trained prosecutors, investigators, and counselors are well-equipped to help you in a trauma-informed, survivor-centered manner,\u201d the DA\u2019s office said to CNN.<\/p>\n Swalwell has been among the leading Democrats in the race to replace outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom. But in just hours, he saw his most prominent supporters – including U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff and powerful labor unions – drop their endorsements and call for his exit from the race.<\/p>\n Several members of Swalwell\u2019s campaign abruptly resigned Friday following the allegations, according to Politico<\/a>. Several other gubernatorial candidates, including San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, have called for Swalwell to drop out as did Democratic congressional leaders who previously endorsed him.<\/p>\n Newsom, a likely 2028 presidential candidate who has avoided engaging in the contest to replace him, said in a statement:<\/p>\n \u201cAs we continue to learn more, these allegations from multiple sources are deeply troubling and must be taken seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who hasn\u2019t endorsed in the race, said the \u201cserious allegations\u201d must be investigated.<\/p>\n \u201cAs I discussed with Congressman Swalwell, it is clear that is best done outside of a gubernatorial campaign,\u201d she said in social media posted by her staff.<\/p>\n The allegations surfaced at a critical stage of the wide-open campaign<\/a> to lead the nation\u2019s most populous state. The exodus of support threatened to cripple Swalwell’s campaign, less than a month before voters receive mail ballots in advance of the June 2 election.<\/p>\n According to The Chronicle, Swalwell is accused of sending photos of his genitals and other intimate messages to the young staffer shortly after she began working at his Castro Valley office in 2019 and asking her to send nude photos back. She was 21 and he was 38. The woman, whom The Chronicle did not name, went along with it, saying she was intrigued and also worried about not upsetting her new boss. <\/p>\n The woman told The Chronicle that Swalwell tried to kiss her in the car after she drove him home from a donor meeting. At another event weeks later, she said Swalwell exposed himself and asked her to perform oral sex on him in a parking lot mid-day. She said she began to, though stopped because it was the middle of the day and she was worried someone would see them.<\/p>\n In September 2019, Swalwell reportedly invited the woman out for drinks at a restaurant in Pleasanton. She said that she had been drinking before the gathering, and Swalwell bought her more drinks until she became extremely inebriated. After that, she said she woke up naked in Swalwell\u2019s hotel bed, and said she could feel the effects of vaginal intercourse. She said that Swalwell became more distant following that encounter. She stopped working for him in 2021. <\/p>\n In April 2024, the woman said she attended a charity gala honoring Swalwell. Later that night, they met for drinks, and she became so drunk that she only remembers fragments of the night, including telling him \u201cNo,\u201d as he forced himself on her, she told The Chronicle. She said she experienced vaginal bleeding and bruises, and medical records show that she obtained pregnancy and STD tests after the incident. <\/p>\n The woman texted a friend days later describing the encounter as an assault and later told her boyfriend, who both corroborated the account, according to The Chronicle.<\/p>\n The woman claimed Swalwell sent her a message stating, \u201cYou said you don\u2019t remember anything last time; I hope you do now,\u201d and then told her not to worry about pregnancy because he had had a vasectomy. <\/p>\n