Rep. Eric Swalwell’s (D-Calif.) campaign for California governor lost two co-chairs and key endorsements on Friday after the San Francisco Chronicle reported on allegations that he sexually assaulted a former staffer.
The Chronicle reported that a woman who previously worked for Swalwell alleged that he sexually assaulted her twice when she was too intoxicated to consent. The Hill has not independently verified these claims. Swalwell denied the allegations in a statement to the outlet.
“These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor,” Swalwell told the Chronicle. The Hill has reached out to his campaign for additional comment.
In the wake of the reporting, Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) resigned as co-chair of Swalwell’s campaign and called on the congressman to “leave the race now so there can be full accountability without doubt, distraction or delay.” The other campaign co-chair, Rep. Adam Gray (D-Calif.), wrote on the social platform X that he is withdrawing his support of Swalwell and urged the gubernatorial candidate to end his campaign.