Swalwell calls sex assault claims ‘flat false’ as attorney hints at legal action
Rep. Eric Swalwell said accusations he sexually assaulted a former staffer are “absolutely false” and vowed to “fight them with everything I have” in a video posted to social media Friday night, as his lawyer suggested the California gubernatorial candidate might take unspecified legal action against the claims.
Swalwell’s campaign website stopped accepting donations on Friday, after the San Francisco Chronicle published an account of an unnamed woman who accused Swalwell of sexually assaulting her twice, in 2019 and 2024, when she was too intoxicated to consent. CNN published its own story several hours later with that account and those of three other women who said the Democrat made unwanted advances, including sending nude photos and explicit messages.
The Sacramento Bee has not independently verified the claims.
A chorus of top Democrats have called on Swalwell, D-Dublin, to step aside from the governor’s race, where he’s running to replace outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom. The list includes House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi, key endorsers like California Sen. Adam Schiff and Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego, and the Swalwell campaign’s co-chairs: Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Los Angeles and Rep. Adam Gray, D-Merced.
Key labor backers, including SEIU California, the California Teachers Association and California Federation of Labor Unions, said Friday they were convening emergency meetings to reconsider their endorsements of Swalwell. On Saturday, the Federation and SEIU California each formally withdrew their endorsements of Swalwell. SEIU California additionally urged Swalwell “to withdraw immediately from the race,” it said in a statement.
Eight of the nine other major candidates for governor as of Saturday morning had called for Swalwell to drop out of the race, with all expressing serious concern about the allegations.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Florida, said on X she planed on introducing a motion to expel Swalwell from Congress on Monday, a move that would require support from two-thirds of the body.
In his video, Swalwell said he felt the need to personally address the “anonymous allegations.” However, CNN reported the name of one woman, influencer Ally Sammarco, who said she received unsolicited nude photos from Swalwell.
The Democrat called the allegations “flat false” and questioned the timing of the claims, which come several weeks before the start of early voting in a race where Swalwell seemed to be rising in the polls.
The alleged incidents “have never happened, and I will fight them with everything that I have,” Swalwell said.
“I have certainly made mistakes in judgment in my past, but those mistakes are between me and my wife and to her, I apologize deeply for putting her in this position,” Swalwell continued.
The Congressional representative said he would spend the weekend with family and friends.
“I look forward to updating you very soon,” he said.
In an appearance on CNN Friday night, Swalwell’s attorney, Elias Dabaie, said he’d sent cease and desist letters to two of the women who came forward and said Swalwell intends to “vindicate his rights in court.” Dabaie said the campaign had an ongoing investigation but reiterated Swalwell’s rebuttal of the accusations.
“The congressman takes accountability for potential lapses in judgment, but again, categorically denies any wrongdoing,” Dabaie said.
The attorney declined to address specific elements of the accusations.
The former staffer who accused Swalwell of sexual assault told her ex-boyfriend, two family members and a friend about the incident after it happened in 2024, according to CNN and the Chronicle, and also wrote about it in a text message. The woman also shared medical records showing she’d received pregnancy and STD testing after the alleged assault.
This story was originally published April 11, 2026 at 9:52 AM.
