\n<\/p>\n
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) is accused of sexually assaulting a woman who worked as a former staffer for him, according to a recent report.<\/p>\n
The woman, who started working in Swalwell\u2019s \u201cdistrict office in Castro Valley in 2019\u201d when she was 21-years-old, claimed<\/a> to the San Francisco Chronicle<\/em> that \u201cSwalwell began pursuing her\u201d and would also allegedly send her photos \u201cof his genitals.\u201d The woman also claims in one instance, Swalwell tried to kiss her in her car,\u201d and that in another instance he allegedly \u201cpulled out his penis and asked her to perform oral sex.\u201d<\/p>\n In one instance, the woman also alleges that in September 2019, after being \u201cinvited\u201d to have drinks with Swalwell, and becoming \u201cseverely intoxicated\u201d to the point where she did not remember the evening, the next morning \u201cshe woke up naked in Swalwell\u2019s hotel bed and could feel the effect of vaginal intercourse.\u201d<\/p>\n In April 2024, after the woman went to an event \u201cwhere Swalwell was honored,\u201d the two later \u201cmet for drinks\u201d and the woman \u201cbecame so inebriated that she only remembers snippets\u201d of what happened. The woman claims that she pushed Swalwell \u201caway\u201d and told him \u201cNo.\u201d:<\/p>\n She said Swalwell, who is married and 17 years her senior, tried to kiss her in her car when she drove him home from a donor meeting one night. Driving him to another event weeks later, she said Swalwell pulled out his penis in the car and asked her to perform oral sex on him. She said she did so in a parking lot.<\/p>\n In September 2019, the woman said, Swalwell invited her out for drinks and she became so severely intoxicated that she does not remember the rest of the night. She said she woke up naked in Swalwell\u2019s hotel bed and could feel the effect of vaginal intercourse. She said Swalwell distanced himself from her afterward and the relationship faded.<\/p>\n Five years later, the woman said, she attended an April 2024 charity gala where Swalwell was honored. The woman, who no longer worked for Swalwell, said they met for drinks afterward, during which she became so inebriated that she only remembers snippets of the night, including pushing Swalwell away and telling him, \u201cNo,\u201d while he allegedly forced himself on her.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n In a statement, Swalwell described the allegations as \u201cfalse,\u201d noting that \u201cfor nearly 20 years\u201d he has served \u201cas a prosecutor and congressman and have always protected women.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThese allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor,\u201d Swalwell stated. \u201cFor nearly 20 years, I have served the public\u00a0\u2014 as a prosecutor and a congressman and have always protected women. I will defend myself with the facts and where necessary bring legal action.\u201d<\/p>\n While Elias Dabaie, who serves as Swalwell\u2019s attorney, stated in a cease-and-desist letter that \u201cthe woman had exhibited \u2018the conduct of a loyal and supportive colleague, not a victim,\u201d an attorney for the woman, Gerald Singleton, said the woman\u2019s \u201cstatements are 100% factually accurate, and she will not be withdrawing them,\u201d according to the outlet.<\/p>\n Dabaie argued in the letter that the woman\u2019s \u201ccredibility\u201d of her \u201caccusations is fatally undermined\u201d by her \u201cvoluntary and cooperative relationship\u201d with Swalwell.<\/p>\n In response to the report, Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) said he was withdrawing his endorsement of Swalwell in California\u2019s gubernatorial election.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve read the San Francisco Chronicle\u2019s reporting and I take it seriously,\u201d Gallego wrote in a post<\/a> on X. \u201cWhat is described is indefensible. Women who come forward with accounts like this deserve to be heard with respect, not questioned or dismissed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n