Eric Swalwell — Who Is Running For California Governor — Under Investigation After Ex-Staffer & Other Women Accuse Him Of Sexual Assault & Misconduct

[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]

An investigation has been launched against Eric Swalwell, who is (or more likely now, was) a Democratic front-runner for California governor, by the Manhattan District Attorney after being accused of sexual assault and more by multiple women.

The massive controversy started on Friday when a former female staff member alleged to the San Francisco Chronicle that she had sexual encounters with the 45-year-old politician — who is married and has three children — when he was her boss for two years, but it was not always consensual. He allegedly sexually assaulted her twice when she was way too intoxicated to consent. How horrifying. And she is not the only one making allegations about him. Buckle up for the alleged disturbing story…

Related: Spencer Pratt Slaps Los Angeles Times With Legal Action Over Eyebrow-Raising Article

The Ex-Staffer’s Allegations

According to the woman, she began working with Swalwell at the age of 21 in the Democrat’s district office in Castro Valley in 2019. And within weeks of hiring her, he allegedly started pursuing her. The ex-staffer claimed Swalwell would message her on Snapchat, sending images of his genitals and asking for nude pictures of her in return. She also alleged Swalwell tried to kiss her in her car when she drove him home from a donor meeting one night.

When the woman drove him to another event weeks later, she accused the US representative of pulling out his penis and asking her to perform oral sex on him, and so she did in the parking lot. Oof. In September of that year, the ex-employee said Swalwell invited her out for drinks, and she became so inebriated that she does not remember what happened the rest of the night. All she knows is that she allegedly woke up naked in Swalwell’s hotel bed and could tell they had vaginal intercourse.

Following the alleged incident, the woman said Swalwell distanced himself from her, and their relationship ended. But that is not the end of the nightmare she allegedly endured. Five years later, she recalled that she attended a charity gala in April 2024 in which Swalwell was being honored. At that point, she no longer worked for him. The woman said they met for drinks after the event, and she became extremely intoxicated again to the point where she only remembers bits and pieces of that night – including her pushing Swalwell away and telling him, “No,” as he allegedly continued to force himself on her.

In an interview with CNN, the former staffer said she woke up “completely confused,” wrapped herself in a blanket, ran out of the hotel, and took the first cab she saw back to her own hotel. On the way, she called her mother, who confirmed the account to the outlet. The woman continued:

“My vagina was bleeding the next day after the sex, I had cuts and bruises on my body. I could see the bruises of where his hand had been on my rib cage and on my legs and near my thighs.”

OMG…

That same day, Swalwell allegedly messaged her on Snapchat to say the previous evening was great and hoped she remembered it this time before demanding she not tell anyone. Three days later, the woman texted a friend she was “sexually assaulted” by Swalwell. She wrote in several messages viewed by The Chronicle that she had “blacked out” but “woke up once during it and even told him to stop at one point.” She added:

“This happened one other time when I was working with him, but I convinced myself I was an equal party in it even though same pattern: I blacked out and he had sex with me.”

The publication also talked to the same pal and the woman’s then-boyfriend, whom she told about the alleged 2024 assault when she got home the following day. Both people claimed she was still disoriented that morning, and her then-boyfriend urged her to report Swalwell to the police. However, she refused to go to the authorities out of fear they would not believe her. A fear many victims unfortunately can understand. The woman also said she largely remained quiet about the alleged assaults because she was afraid to suffer personal and professional consequences:

“He was the foundation of my career. I had nothing to fall back on or anyone to vouch for my skills outside of my colleagues in that office and Eric himself. I knew if I came forward, it would define me and undermine my credibility.”

The Chronicle reports that medical records show she got pregnancy and STD tests a week after the alleged incident.

Why She Came Forward Now

Rumors about Swalwell started circulating online, which the woman said confused her because she had only told a small group of family and friends about her alleged assaults. She became “petrified” that he told people about what happened and that her name appeared in an opposition research file compiled by a rival campaign. So, the woman claimed, she called the Swalwell campaign in late March to figure out whether her name surfaced as one of the rumored victims.

While on the phone, the campaign staffer allegedly asked her to vouch for Swalwell and questioned if he had even been inappropriate with her. The woman claimed that when she hesitated to answer, the employee replied:

“Actually, I don’t want to know.”

Per The Chronicle, the staff member then told the woman that Swalwell wasn’t afraid of the ongoing rumors because he behaved poorly. Those comments led the woman to finally speak out about what allegedly happened to her.

“He was so confident that I would stay silent that he wasn’t scared. I have no skin in the game of who becomes governor of California, but I feel people have a right to know whether the person who leads a state that is a safe haven for so many women actually treats women with dignity and will protect their rights. No one protected me from him, and so I have to protect the other young women like me who aspire to work in this field and he could prey upon.”

We applaud the woman for coming forward. It is not an easy thing to do.

Other Women Come Forward

Sadly, as we mentioned, there are other alleged victims. Three other women spoke to CNN on Friday, accusing Swalwell of sexual misconduct. Speaking to the outlet, one woman claimed she connected with the congressman online over her interest in Democratic politics and ended up very drunk inside his hotel room after a night out with him in spring 2025 — and has no memory of what happened. However, she claimed earlier in the night at the bar that Swalwell kissed her and touched her leg without her consent.

Content creator Ally Sammarco claimed she received unsolicited nude messages from Swalwell. According to Sammarco, she contacted the Democrat on Twitter to discuss politics:

“I truly never thought he would respond – I had like 1,000 followers at the time. And he actually responded.”

What she never expected was his alleged behavior afterward. When the pair eventually connected on Snapchat, she claimed he started to message her every day and he  “became very inappropriate, like saying about how hot he thought I was, insinuating we should get together and hook up,” adding:

“He was always like drunk texting me, saying, ‘Oh, I’m having a drink. What are you doing?’ And I’m like, ‘I am out with my friends.’ Like, I’m 24.”

Swalwell allegedly sent Sammarco selfies of himself in bed or shirtless, as well as unsolicited photos of his penis. Another woman, who works in marketing, accused Swalwell of also sending her unsolicited photos of his penis and other sexual messages on Snapchat. She said he reached out to her on Twitter in April 2021, when she was in her late twenties, after she liked several of his posts. They soon began messaging on Snapchat, and things became flirty and sexual between them after roughly a month.

The woman claimed Swalwell often requested swimsuit or nude photos of her, and she sometimes sent them. He then allegedly sent her several videos of his penis, which she insisted she never asked for. The pair never met up in person, but messaged for four years on and off. Per the woman, Swalwell would offer to help with her career, but she never took him up on it. Ultimately, the woman said she felt “embarrassed and kind of ashamed” about the exchanges:

“When you’re getting unsolicited dick videos sent to you, it just makes you feel like I’m lesser than a person. I just wish I’d never answered him.”

Oof…

His Denial

Swalwell has since denied the sexual assault and misconduct claims in a video posted to X (Twitter) on Friday, saying:

“A lot has been said about me today through anonymous allegations. I thought it was important that you see and hear from me directly. These allegations of sexual assault are flat false. They are absolutely false. They did not happen. They have never happened. And I will fight them with everything I have. They also come on the eve of an election, where I have been the frontrunner candidate for governor of California. I do not suggest to you in any way that I am perfect or that I’m a saint — I have certainly made mistakes in judgment in my past, but those mistakes are between me and my wife. And to her, I apologize deeply for putting her in this potion.”

He went on to apologize to anyone  who has now “doubted” their support for him amid his bid for governor of California amid the allegations:

“I think you know who I am. For over 20 years, I have served the public as a city councilman, as a member of congress and as a prosecutor who went to court on behalf of victims — particularly on behalf of sexual assault victims. That’s who I am and have always been. This weekend I’m gonna spend time with my family and friends and I appreciate those who have reached out to me to show support. And I look forward to updating you very soon.”

In addition, CNN reported Salwell has threatened legal action against the alleged victims. He reportedly sent some of the women cease and desist orders. WTF. Watch the video (below):

Hear it directly from me. These allegations are flat false. And I will fight them. pic.twitter.com/bQSlCquD1U

— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) April 11, 2026

Investigation Launched

As we mention, the Manhattan District Attorney has since launched an investigation against Salwell following the ex-staffer’s rape allegations. The DA’s office told TMZ in a statement on Saturday:

“We urge survivors and anyone with knowledge of these allegations to contact our Special Victims Division at 212-335-9373. Our specially trained prosecutors, investigators and counselors are well-equipped to help you in a trauma-informed, survivor-centered manner.”

We’ll have to wait and see what happens with the investigation. But when it comes to his California gubernatorial campaign, that may be out the window now! Several Democrats in the area, including former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senator Adam Schiff, and Congressman Robert Garcia, pulled their support and demanded he drop out.

Reactions, Perezcious readers? Let us know in the comments (below).

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence and would like to learn more about resources, consider checking out https://www.rainn.org/resources. 

[Image via Eric Salwell/Instagram]

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