Rep. Eric Swalwell Faces Sexual Misconduct Allegations
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), who is a prominent candidate for governor in California, has been accused of rape by a former staffer, along with various allegations of sexual misconduct from three other women. Swalwell denies the assault claims but has acknowledged making a “mistake,” suggesting that there are issues he and his wife need to address.
Recently, former Congressional candidate Cheyenne Hunt hinted at these allegations on X, stating that he had spoken to multiple women ready to “come forward and share their stories of sexual harassment and even abuse by Eric Swalwell.”
In a thread, Hunt mentioned that the first accuser was a “close friend” of hers. This friend had shared her experiences, leading Hunt to discover that others had similar stories regarding Swalwell’s behavior.
Support for Hunt came from other Democrats, including campaign staffer Bri Gillis, who remarked that anyone familiar with Washington, D.C., would know the truth of the situation. She added that it was astonishing it took this long for the allegations to surface.
Babik Latia, a former aide on Kamala Harris’s and Bernie Sanders’s campaigns, stated that she had confirmed the allegations with a “trusted friend.” Latia urged Swalwell to take the allegations seriously, claiming more stories would soon emerge.
Detailed accounts were revealed in an interview with CNN, where four women discussed their experiences with Swalwell, the married gubernatorial candidate. One former staffer recounted an incident from 2024, stating that, despite her protests, Swalwell didn’t stop his advances.
This anonymous woman described an incident from 2019, where she alleged non-consensual sexual contact occurred while she was under the influence. “His power made me feel like I couldn’t report it,” she reflected, expressing how she lived in fear afterward.
After serving in Swalwell’s office, the former staffer transitioned to a job at his district office and began communicating with him on Snapchat, where she sent explicit photos. She described the conflicting nature of Swalwell’s personalities: the casual Snapchat interlocutor versus her boss.
Swalwell even reportedly asked her to engage in sexual acts in a parked car, to which she initially acquiesced. Later, after a night out where she became intoxicated, she remembered waking up in a hotel room with him. Although she sensed something had happened, she told Swalwell she didn’t recall much, to which he reportedly replied, “Well, make sure you remember that next time.”
She later moved to a Washington, D.C., office but continued to communicate discreetly with Swalwell. During a gala, he allegedly made inappropriate advances again, leading her to assert boundaries.
Another woman, who met Swalwell in 2025, reflected on feeling “disgusted and embarrassed” by their interaction, later expressing her hurt in a message sent to him after he announced his run for governor.
Two additional women claim that Swalwell sent them unsolicited explicit messages and images. In response to these allegations, Swalwell firmly denied them, insisting that they surfaced just before an election against a primary opponent. He emphasized his long-standing commitment to protecting women and stated he would take legal action if needed.
Following the allegations, at least two women received cease-and-desist letters from Swalwell’s attorneys, which argued that their claims contradicted their histories of cooperation with him.
Following inquiries from CNN about the allegations, Swalwell’s staff indicated that he had stepped back from his campaign. He later took to social media to address the charges, reiterating his denial and expressing regret for his wife, citing a need to focus on family during this tumultuous time.
In a closing remark, one of the women he allegedly harassed reacted to his video, questioning the sincerity of his denial.
