Rep. Eric Swalwell announced Sunday night that he is suspending his campaign for California governor, stepping back from the race just days after multiple accusations of sexual misconduct surfaced, including a former staffer’s claim that he raped her twice.
The California Democrat shared the decision in a post on X, acknowledging controversy surrounding his past while maintaining his innocence.
“I am suspending my campaign for Governor,” Swalwell wrote. “To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistake in judgement I’ve made in my past.” He added that he intends to fight the accusations directly, stating, “I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s.”
The announcement came two days after a report by the San Francisco Chronicle detailed accusations from a former staffer, who alleged that Swalwell raped her twice. The claims were later amplified by reporting from CNN on April 10, which indicated that multiple women have come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct.
Among those claims, the same accuser told CNN that one alleged assault occurred in 2019 and another during a trip to New York City in 2024. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office confirmed Saturday that it has launched a probe into the 2024 allegation, marking a significant development as the legal process begins to take shape.
In an interview with CNN’s Pamela Brown, the accuser described her recollection of one of the alleged incidents, saying she remembered “flashes of that evening” and described what she characterized as aggressive behavior. When asked whether she told Swalwell to stop, she responded that she had said “no” and attempted to push him away.
Swalwell has consistently denied the allegations. In comments to the Chronicle, he said the claims are false and suggested their timing was politically motivated, noting that they surfaced as he was leading the race for governor. “These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor,” he said.
The controversy has triggered swift fallout within Swalwell’s political circle. Reports indicate that staffers began leaving his team following the allegations. Members of both his congressional office and gubernatorial campaign issued a joint statement expressing shock over the claims and signaling support for the accusers.
The situation has also drawn attention on Capitol Hill. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna said Saturday that she plans to force a vote to remove Swalwell from Congress when lawmakers return to Washington next week. Her effort appears to be gaining traction across party lines, with at least one House Democrat telling Axios it may be time to “get the garbage out of here.”
Swalwell’s departure from the gubernatorial race reshapes the contest to succeed Gavin Newsom, while also raising broader questions about accountability in public office. As the allegations move into the legal arena, the case underscores the seriousness of such claims and the importance of due process.
At a time when political tensions already run high, controversies like this serve as a reminder that public trust can erode quickly—and that leadership, both in times of peace and conflict, ultimately depends on credibility as much as policy.
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