Swalwell “suspends” campaign for governor following allegations of sexual harassment, nude photos
SACRAMENTO – Embattled member Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign for governor of California on Sunday but continued to deny that he sexually assaulted anyone.
His campaign to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom failed as key Democratic supporters, including Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Adam Schiff, who left him.
“To my family, staff, friends and supporters, I am deeply sorry for the mistakes I have made in the past,” Swalwell wrote on social media on Sunday.
“I will fight the serious, false allegations made – but that’s my fight, not the campaign’s.”
House Ethics rules prohibit members from having sex with a subordinate, and House Democratic Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York wants an investigation into these allegations.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) announced plans to force a House vote to impeach Swalwell, a proposal supported by some House Democrats. Rep. Jared Huffman, a Democrat representing Northern California, is among those calling for his resignation.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office has opened an investigation into allegations of sexual assault against Swalwell by a former employee, and the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office on Saturday said the office is in the process of investigating “whether there are criminal allegations” in the agency’s Bay Area jurisdiction.
The 45-year-old Democratic candidate has emerged as the front-runner in the race to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom, despite not having much of a following in California.
A former member of the House Intelligence Committee and a seasoned social media user, Swalwell has reveled in his role in hounding President Donald Trump, using his many platforms to attack and mock the twice-convicted, criminal president.
He previously worked as a criminal prosecutor, and was elected to Congress in 2012 after defeating Rep. Pete Stark, also a former Democrat.
He pretended to be a middle-class man and featured his wife and three very young children in his campaign for governor. In an interview he had with the Times last year, he spoke about his decision to continue in politics even though his family suffered.
Reports published in the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN have given a stark contrast to Swalwell’s good image, alleging that he forced himself on a young worker and sent women pictures of his penis and sexy messages.
CNN also reported on the account of another woman who allegedly had sex with Swalwell while running away with drinks, then woke up in her hotel room with no memory of how she got there.
Swalwell and his team have threatened legal action against several people, Swalwell’s lawyer Elias Dabaie confirmed to The Times. Swalwell himself took to social media on Friday night to call the allegations “false” and intended to harm him in the race.
But campaign staff quit, his fundraising website went offline and even his “best friend” in Congress, Sen. Ruben Gallegos of Arizona, withdrew his endorsement. Powerful labor groups, including the California Labor Federation, SEIU California and the California Police Chiefs Assn., withdrew their support.
Other Democrats in the race include billionaire Tom Steyer; former Orange County Attorney Katie Porter; State Supt. Tony Thurmond; former US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra,; San José Mayor Matt Mahan; former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and former County Supervisor Betty Yee.
Top GOP nominees like Steve Hilton, former Fox News commentator, and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
