Eric Swalwell Under Investigation After Shocking Accusations

Rep. Eric Swalwell’s political future was thrown into chaos Saturday after the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office confirmed it is investigating a sexual assault allegation against the California Democrat, adding a serious new legal dimension to a scandal that is already shaking his campaign for governor.

The announcement came just one day after CNN reported that a former Swalwell staffer accused him of having sex with her while she was too intoxicated to consent during an encounter in New York City in April 2024.

In a statement to CNN, the Manhattan DA’s Office said it is urging “survivors and anyone with knowledge of these allegations” to come forward and contact its Special Victims Division. Officials added that their prosecutors, investigators and counselors are trained to handle cases in a trauma-informed and survivor-centered way.

The woman at the center of the allegation told CNN she had been drinking heavily with Swalwell that night and later woke up in his hotel bed to find him having sex with her.

“I was pushing him off of me, saying no,” she said. “He didn’t stop.”

The allegation is one of several now swirling around Swalwell. According to CNN, three other women also described misconduct allegations involving the congressman, including claims that he sent unsolicited nude photos and sexually explicit messages.

Swalwell has forcefully denied the accusations. In a statement and a video posted to social media Friday evening, he claimed the allegations are false and politically timed to damage him just as California’s governor’s race heats up.

“These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the front-runner for governor,” Swalwell said. He also defended his record, saying that over nearly two decades in public service — including as a prosecutor and congressman — he has “always protected women.” He added that he plans to fight the claims with facts and pursue legal action where necessary.

But the fallout is spreading fast.

The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office also said Saturday that it is reviewing whether any alleged criminal conduct may have taken place within its jurisdiction after the same woman accused Swalwell of a separate act of sexual misconduct in 2019. That allegation is especially notable given Swalwell’s own history as a former deputy district attorney in Alameda County before entering Congress.

What had once looked like a high-profile gubernatorial run is now facing a full-blown crisis. Swalwell, who previously ran in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary and built part of his public image around accountability and justice, is now under mounting pressure from within his own party.

Prominent Democrats in California and beyond have reportedly begun calling on him to rethink his campaign or exit the race altogether. So far, Swalwell has not made clear what his next move will be.

With California’s all-party primary set for June 2, the investigation threatens to reshape the race at a critical moment — and could leave voters asking whether a candidate already facing multiple misconduct allegations can survive the storm ahead.