Rep. Scott Peters, D-Poway, withdrew his support Saturday for the gubernatorial candidacy of Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Dublin, and joined the growing chorus calling for Swalwell to quit the race after at least four women accused him of sexual misconduct — including a former staffer.
“The allegations of wrongdoing against Eric Swalwell are shocking and extremely serious, and my heart goes out to anyone who was harmed,” Peters said. “It is in everyone’s interest to ensure that justice is done. There is no way that Eric can wage a viable campaign for governor. I am withdrawing my support for him and asking him to do the right thing and cease his campaign.”
The firestorm erupted Friday when the San Francisco Chronicle published a story alleging that a female employee had a consensual relationship with the married congressman, including sexual encounters with Swalwell while working for him. She further claimed he sexually assaulted her on two occasions when she was drunk and unable to give her consent.
Later in the day CNN reported three more women had accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct, including sending unsolicited nude photos.
Swalwell disputed the allegations in a social media video Friday:
“A lot has been said about me today through anonymous allegations,” Swalwell said. ” … These allegations of sexual assault are flat false. They are absolutely false. They did not happen; they have never happened, and I will fight them with everything I have.
“They also come on the eve of an election where I have been the front- runner candidate for governor in California. I do not suggest to you in any way that I’m perfect or that I’m a saint. 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. I also apologize to you if in any way you have doubted your support for me, but I think you know who I am. For over 20 years, I have served the public as a city councilman, as a member of Congress, and as a prosecutor who went to court on behalf of victims, particularly on behalf of sexual assault victims.”
He elaborated in a statement to NBC4.
“For nearly 20 years, I have served the public — as a prosecutor and a congressman — and have always protected women,” he said. “I will defend myself with the facts and where necessary bring legal action.”
The station reported that Swalwell, 45, met with his family Friday in the San Francisco Bay Area although the outcome was unclear. He and his wife, Brittany Watts, have three children.
Swalwell’s campaign did not respond to a request for a response to Peters’ statement.
Other California elected officials were urging Swalwell to withdraw from the race, and many were also saying he should resign his seat in Congress.
Former Los Angeles Mayor and state Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa issued a statement saying in part that “reporting on the horrific allegations that Eric Swalwell abused his position and repeatedly sexually assaulted a staffer is shocking and reprehensible. Further, Eric Swalwell’s attempt to silence victims to save his campaign for governor — a campaign he was unfit to enter given these allegations — is a shameful disgrace to our democracy.
“Now that victims are finally being heard, it has become abundantly clear that Eric Swalwell must withdraw from the governor’s race and immediately resign from Congress. I’m calling on him to live by the words that he has repeatedly professed, and encourage all victims to come forward to speak freely without fear of threats or legal retribution from Mr. Swalwell so that he can face accountability for his alleged actions. In California, we believe women and no one is above the law,” Villaraigosa added.
Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California, and Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, both rescinded their endorsements, as did Service Employees International Union California.
“SEIU California has formally voted to rescind its endorsement of Eric Swalwell and to urge him to withdraw immediately from the race,” the union said in a statement Saturday.
“As a union predominantly made up of women, SEIU has prioritized fighting for workplaces free of sexual harassment and assault. Many of our members have faced sexual harassment, coercion, abuse of power, and rape in the workplace and know firsthand how difficult it is to come forward in any circumstances, but especially when your abuser has more power than you do and your livelihood and future are at stake.
“We are grateful to the women who courageously spoke out to share their stories: Every person who stands up to power and speaks out about abuse is helping to create safer workplaces and a safer society for all,” the statement concluded.
California’s other Democratic Senator, Alex Padilla, and gubernatorial candidates Tom Steyer, Tony Thurmond and Matt Mahan also called for Swalwell to withdraw from the race. The California Teachers Association has suspend its endorsement.
Californians for a Fighter, an independent group supporting Swalwell, said the group was “suspending campaign activity immediately” in light of the allegations, and the fundraising platform ActBlue has stopped accepting donations for his campaign.
Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., a longtime Swalwell ally, also withdrew his endorsement, describing the allegations as “indefensible.”
A CBS News report linked viral rumors about Swalwell in the days before the Chronicle story was published to influencer Cheyenne Hunter, who describes herself as a progressive activist. She has a law degree from the UC Irvine School of Law, where gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter is a professor.
“I have been working with a number of women who are in the process of coming forward and sharing their stories of sexual harassment and even alleged abuse at the hands of Eric Swalwell,” Hunter posted April 5 on X. “I got involved because the first victim who approached me is a close friend, but when I saw that there were others who’s experiences fit the same pattern of manipulation and abuse of power, I knew I couldn’t stay silent.”
Porter told CBS News that she did not have any “direct relationship” to releasing the allegations just weeks before the June 2 primary.
“In light of the allegations of sexual assault, Eric Swalwell should resign from Congress and end his campaign for public office, ” Porter posted on X. “But those decisions do not absolve him of taking responsibility for his misconduct, especially when he has attempted to silence and retaliate against these victims. These allegations merit full investigations, and these women deserve the right to pursue justice.”
Swalwell questioned the timing of the allegations being reported.
“These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor,” Swalwell said in his media statement. “My focus in the coming days is to be with my wife and children and defend our decades of service against these lies.”
Meanwhile, his fellow gubernatorial candidates were continuing the push for him to step aside.
“I hope Eric Swalwell will do the right thing and get out of this race now,” San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said at a Beverly Hills news conference Friday.
Earlier Friday, Mahan wrote on X: “To the survivor who risked everything to come forward — I believe you. To the Democratic Party — you’d better hold him accountable. If we don’t we have no credibility asking anyone else to do the same. To (Swalwell) — drop out.”
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond also hastily called a news conference Friday afternoon in downtown Los Angeles, calling on Swalwell to withdraw from the governor’s race and resign from Congress.
In a video posted on social media after the Chronicle story was released, Thurmond pointed to earlier allegations that began circulating online about possible inappropriate contact by Swalwell with female staff members — accusations Swalwell also denied.
“These are credible women represented by legal counsel working with investigative journalists to make sure their stories are told safely and on the record,” Thurmond said.
“The number of women who have come forward is by all accounts shocking, and Congressman Swalwell’s response has been to call it a conspiracy and to attack the women who were brave enough to speak out.
“… California cannot have a governor who treats the people who work for him as something to take advantage of,” he added. “We cannot have a governor who silences victims. … Leadership requires accountability and right now, Eric Swalwell is refusing to be accountable for anything. He needs to step aside.”
California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks called the accusations “deeply disturbing in a statement, but stopped short of calling for Swalwell to leave the race.
“First, the stories of victims and survivors should be heard and believed. Period,” Hicks said. “Second, any person engaged in misconduct must take responsibility and be held accountable for their actions — including a Member of Congress and candidate for governor. Finally, my call for all — repeat, all — candidates for Governor to ‘honestly assess the viability of their candidacy and campaign’ still stands.”
According to the Los Angeles Times, an attorney for Swalwell’s campaign sent a cease-and-desist letter on Thursday to an unknown person demanding they stop accusing Swalwell of assault.
On Friday, Politico reported that several members of Swalwell’s campaign staffers resigned just prior to the Chronicle’s story being published. One, adviser Courtni Pugh, confirmed her departure to Politico, which reported that at least four other people had also left, including both campaign chairs.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton has been polling at the top of the 10-candidate gubernatorial race, along with fellow Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. Swalwell had been close behind, leading among the eight Democrats in the race.
Hilton said Friday that it’s “incredible that the big unions that run California picked Swalwell as their puppet, knowing full well that all this was out there. For all their endless lectures on gender equality and their `values,’ it’s obvious that today’s California Democratic Party doesn’t care about them at all, except for its own power.”
Incumbent Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is termed out, has not called on Swalwell to drop his campaign, but said in a statement that “As we continue to learn more, these allegations from multiple sources are deeply troubling and must be taken seriously.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, D-San Bernardino, also called for the congressman to exit the race.
Also Saturday, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said she planned to file a motion to expel Swalwell from office, which would require a two-thirds vote from the House of Representatives.
In New York on Saturday, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office announced plans to investigate the allegation from the former staffer who accused Swalwell of having sex with her when she was heavily intoxicated after a night of drinking with him in New York City in April 2024 and unable to consent.
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