Manhattan DA Launches Criminal Investigation Into Eric Swalwell Over Assault Allegations

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office confirmed Saturday that it is investigating sexual assault allegations against U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat and candidate for governor, after four women accused him of misconduct ranging from harassment to rape. The office urged anyone with knowledge of the allegations to contact its Special Victims Division. The investigation follows reports published Friday by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN detailing accusations from multiple women, including a former member of Swalwell's congressional staff. Swalwell denied all allegations, calling them "flat false" and politically motivated, but within hours faced a cascade of withdrawn endorsements and calls from prominent Democrats to exit the gubernatorial race.

Former staffer describes two alleged assaults, years apart The most detailed accusations came from a former aide who said she began working in Swalwell's Castro Valley district office in 2019 at age 21. She told CNN that Swalwell engaged in sexually explicit communication over Snapchat, including sending photos of his genitals and requesting nude images from her. She alleged the first assault occurred after a night of drinking in September 2019, when she became blackout intoxicated and later woke up naked in a hotel room. She stopped working for Swalwell in 2021 but alleged a second incident in 2024, when she encountered him at a charity gala in New York, after which she said she again became heavily intoxicated and he forced himself on her in a hotel room. „I was pushing him away from me, saying no. He didn't stop.” — Former aide via Notícias ao Minuto The San Francisco Chronicle reviewed text messages related to the alleged 2024 assault and spoke to people she had told about the incident. The woman said she did not go to police at the time because she feared she would not be believed. Three additional women told CNN that Swalwell had engaged in other forms of non-consensual sexual behavior, including sending unsolicited nude photographs. One of those women, identified as Ally Sammarco, said she received unsolicited explicit images after exchanging messages with Swalwell on Twitter about politics.

All 21 congressional endorsements pulled in under 24 hours The political fallout was swift and sweeping. U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, the junior senator from California, said he was "deeply distressed" by the allegations and called for Swalwell to end his gubernatorial bid. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who had not endorsed in the race, said the allegations must be investigated and told Swalwell that process should take place „outside of a gubernatorial campaign.” — Nancy Pelosi via POLITICO House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries also called on Swalwell to drop out. Representative Jimmy Gomez, who had served as Swalwell's campaign chair, resigned immediately, saying the congressman should leave the race "so there can be full accountability without doubt, distraction, or delay." California Senators Alex Padilla and Ruben Gallego, along with Representatives Scott Peters, Linda Sanchez, Jimmy Panetta, Julia Brownley, and Raúl Grijalva, all rescinded their endorsements. According to Axios, Swalwell lost all 21 of his endorsements from Democratic colleagues in Congress within roughly 24 hours of the allegations surfacing. Powerful labor organizations, including the California Labor Federation, the California Service Employees International Union, and the California Teachers Association, suspended or withdrew their support. The executive council of the California Labor Federation voted unanimously to withdraw its endorsement. Swalwell's campaign also suspended fundraising through the ActBlue platform, with a spokesperson for the site confirming the campaign itself had deactivated the page.

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Swalwell vows to fight on, but campaign in free fall Swalwell maintained his denial in a video posted to social media Friday, saying the allegations were timed to damage him ahead of the June 2 primary. „These allegations of sexual assault are flat false. They're absolutely false. They did not happen, they have never happened, and I will fight them with everything that I have.” — Eric Swalwell via AP NEWS In a separate statement, he added that for nearly 20 years he had served the public as a prosecutor and congressman and had "always protected women." He acknowledged unspecified "mistakes" in his past, saying those were "between me and my wife," to whom he apologized. His attorney, Elias Dabaie, told CNN that Swalwell intended to continue his campaign, though it was "not clear" when he might return to the campaign trail. Swalwell said he would spend the weekend with family and friends before sharing an update. Representative Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican from Florida, announced plans to force a vote to expel Swalwell from Congress. More than a dozen unnamed staffers from both his campaign and congressional office issued an unsigned statement obtained by POLITICO saying they were "horrified" by the reporting, while noting some would remain temporarily to support junior staff who could not immediately leave without financial risk.

Eric Swalwell has represented California's 14th congressional district since 2023, having previously represented the 15th district from 2013 to 2023. He was first elected in 2012. California uses a nonpartisan blanket primary system, sometimes called a "jungle primary," in which all candidates regardless of party appear on the same ballot and the top two vote-getters advance to the general election in November, even if both belong to the same party. The Democratic primary for governor is scheduled for June 2, 2026, with mail ballots set to be distributed to voters the following month in advance of that date. Swalwell had been considered one of the leading Democratic contenders to succeed outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom.

21 (endorsements) — Congressional endorsements Swalwell lost in under 24 hours