On Friday, following a former staffer’s allegations of sexual assault against Democratic California Rep. Eric Swalwell, several California Democrats expressed their belief in the woman’s claims and called for Swalwell to exit the gubernatorial race.
A woman who worked with Swalwell for nearly two years claimed in the San Francisco Chronicle that she was sexually assaulted twice by the married congressman while unable to consent due to intoxication. Although Swalwell denied the accusations, just four days later, Cheyenne Hunt, a California Democratic activist, highlighted in several posts on X that she was working with multiple women trying to accuse Swalwell of sexual misconduct.
Shortly after the Chronicle’s report was published, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, who is also running for governor in California’s upcoming all-party primary on June 2, urged Swalwell to withdraw from the race. He emphasized that failing to hold Swalwell accountable could jeopardize the party’s integrity.
“To the survivors who risked everything to come forward, I believe you. To the Democrats, you better hold him accountable,” Mahan stated in a Friday post on X, pointing out that without such accountability, the party loses credibility to request it from others.
Less than an hour later, Democratic California Rep. Jimmy Gomez, who had co-chaired Swalwell’s campaign, called for his colleagues to resign too. He insisted he could no longer support the campaign after being “shocked” by the serious accusations against Swalwell.
“This situation involves trust,” he said in his statement. “I am resigning from my campaign role effective immediately.” He further urged Swalwell to withdraw from the race to ensure full accountability.
Following this, California Senator Adam Schiff also withdrew his support for Swalwell, voicing his concern over the allegations and affirming that he believed the accused woman should be taken seriously.
Former Democratic Rep. Katie Porter acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations but chose not to request Swalwell’s withdrawal from the race. She expressed her solidarity with the women who came forward.
Billionaire activist Tom Steyer remarked on the bravery of the whistleblowing women, insisting their stories must be heard and treated with seriousness.
Swalwell and his team have strongly denied the allegations. His lawyer reportedly issued a letter of suspension to the staffer over her claims. Swalwell stated, “These claims are false and were made right before an election against the frontrunner for governor,” highlighting that he has a long history of serving the public and protecting women. He vowed to defend himself with the facts and take legal action if needed.
He also noted that his priority in the coming days is to be with his family and protect their reputation from these accusations. A spokesperson for Swalwell criticized the timing of the allegations, suggesting they were politically motivated.
Hunt mentioned that her involvement began when she learned from a close friend, but upon hearing more reports of similar experiences, she felt compelled to act. She asserted that the allegations span from inappropriate comments to potential criminal offenses.
